LAS VEGAS >> It was time to buckle up for the joy ride that was University of Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich.

During the Mountain West Conference’s Media Days on Wednesday, Rolovich posed for pictures, participated in dozens of interviews (including his uninvited stint on a radio show), led a Pokemon hunt in the hotel, engaged in a Twitter one-upmanship battle with a Boise State fan, took the Chubby Bunny Challenge (until he was disqualified for eating the marshmallows instead of seeing how many he could stuff into his mouth), staged a best-helmet contest, passed out macadamia chocolates to event workers, picked up rubbish, and plotted next year’s revenge after being pranked.

“Somebody told me to do an interview (in a room), and there was nothing (in there) but boxes,” Rolovich said. “That’s like the 9th-Green-at-9 trick (Happy Gilmore) fell for. Next year” — he grinned — “I won’t be the new guy.”

For one rat-a-tat-paced day, Rolovich was the life of what is usually a sterile event promoting the coming football season. He delighted reporters with witty comments, bemused MWC commissioner Craig Thompson with a Pokemon avatar, and befriended fellow head coaches.

“That’s the aloha spirit right there,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said of Rolovich. “I tell you what, Hawaii hired the right guy.”

San Jose State coach Ron Caragher said: “Nick is a great coach.”

Running back James Butler, who was representing Nevada at the Media Days, told a Hawaii reporter that he misses the Wolf Pack’s former offensive coordinator.

“You guys are so lucky to have Rolo,” Butler said. “He tried to teach me to swim one day. I didn’t know how to swim, and it was always a big deal. I talked to him about it, and he tried to help me. He’s a great man, a great competitor. We’re going to miss him.”

For all the fun, Rolovich is ready for the games.

“Now, it’s real,” Rolovich said of UH’s training camp, which opens Sunday, with the first practice on Monday. “I’m ready for it. I’m ready to go. I want to see what this team is going to be. I can’t wait for the first sense of adversity to come. I want to see if this team has made any improvement or will they instinctively go to a point of blame or finger-pointing.”

The Warriors already have endured drama. Zak Hill departed for Boise State in January after 48 days as the Warriors’ offensive coordinator. Defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii was dismissed for failing to comply with the school’s code of conduct. UH will not name a No. 1 quarterback until at least the second week of camp.

Rolovich has remained enthused about a coaching job he sought following his final UH game in 2001. Back then, in head coach June Jones’ office, Rolovich reflected on the Warriors’ success and community bond.

“What (Jones) was able to do for that group of kids, which I was in, and how strong we are to this day — to count on each other — that was really impressive,” Rolovich said. “You saw the goodness of Hawaii at a real high level. Everywhere you went, everything was better. (Jones) was able to do that because of the culture he built. I said: ‘Someday, I’d like to have your job.’ I remember telling him that. That was the first time I thought about it.”

Rolovich’s two bosses at Nevada — Chris Ault and then Brian Polian — also could envision his head-coaching potential. Ault, a Nevada graduate, emphasized the significance of coaching for his alma mater.

“Everything (Ault) did was to make Nevada better,” Rolovich said. “It sprinkled down to the players. He was big on keeping our facility clean. I saw him pick up a sunflower seed. I don’t know how he saw it, but he saw it. He picked it up and said, ‘I want this place looking good.’ He said, ‘Rolo, don’t you forget this,’ and I didn’t.”

Polian said he assigned Rolovich to speak to groups as way to train him for a future head-coaching job.

Soon after being named UH head coach in November, Rolovich called a team meeting. He was surprised to see “emptiness” in the eyes of several players, perhaps the bill for five consecutive losing seasons. His mission focused on building confidence and unity.

“This season will tell a lot,” Rolovich said. “Not necessarily in wins and losses, but how we play. That’ll say a lot about our belief in climbing to that level again.”