When it comes to the University of Hawaii’s 72-45 stunning of eighth-ranked Brigham Young in 2001, most people remember quarterback Nick Rolovich’s eight touchdown passes.

“That and Chad Owens’ (two) touchdown (returns),” Rolovich adds.

Rolovich would also like you to recall the Rainbow Warriors’ stout defense.

“You go back and look at our defense in that game — there were eight or nine turnovers, too,” Rolovich said.

Seven (six fumbles and an interception), actually. It just seemed like more.

The coordinator and architect of that defense was Kevin Lempa, whose unit forced 35 turnovers that season (21 fumbles and 14 interceptions). Only three of 115 teams in the country produced more. In three years at UH, Lempa’s defenses averaged 29.3 turnovers per season.

Compare that with the 2015 ’Bows, who forced 11 total, including a meager three interceptions — to rank 122nd among 127 teams in the FBS in takeaways — and you quickly understand why one of the first calls Rolovich made when he took the UH job was to Lempa.

“I mean, there are a lot of stats that you can look at that can use some improvement, but we’re going to concentrate a lot on turnovers and penalties, especially stupid, selfish penalties,” Rolovich said as the ’Bows prepare to open spring practice in Manoa this morning.

Rolovich never coached with Lempa but came to admire the character of the defense and the man who scripted it. “Some people make an impression on you and you remember that,” Rolovich said. “I just remember how the players on that team felt about him as a person and that’s what I was looking for.”

Mostly, Rolovich appreciated how “he allowed his players to play to their personality. He allowed them to play hard without too much thinking.”

It is an aggressive, all-out style the ’Bows seek to recapture this year, if they can. And part of this spring practice will be about seeing if the personnel can fit the desired mold.

“We’d like to play that aggressive style, but that would encompass some man coverage and we have to see if we have the players and the ability to do that,” Lempa said. “That’s what this spring is going to be for.”

In the 13 years since Lempa last coached in Manoa before returning to Boston College, he’s added to what is now a 43-year resume. It was at Maryland where he hooked up with defensive coordinator Don Brown, whom he rejoined at BC in 2013. BC was among the nation’s most accomplished defenses the past two years and its best in 2015, leading FBS in total defense while rating second in rushing defense, fourth in scoring defense and fifth in pass efficiency defense.

When Rolovich initially approached Lempa, who was serving as defensive backs coach at BC, he said Lempa told him, “ ‘Rolo, we have a good thing going here and people coming back.’ But when Coach Brown left (for Michigan in late December), things changed.”

For the 63-year-old Lempa, the “old” man of the coaching staff, it is an energizing return. “I feel like I did back then (in 2001),” Lempa said.

The ’Bows hope his defense does, too.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.