Jacob Yoro, a former All-State linebacker from Saint Louis School, is expected to be named as a full-time assistant coach for the University of Hawaii football team.
The hiring, which was anticipated last week, could be finalized as early as today.
Yoro will fill a vacancy created when defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa resigned on Feb. 9 to accept a non-coaching job at Michigan. Legi Suiaunoa, who coached the defensive line, was promoted to Lempa’s replacement on Feb. 10. Suiaunoa will continue to coach the defensive tackles and nose tackles.
Lempa’s UH duties also included assisting secondary coach Abraham Elimimian with the safeties. Yoro, if approved, will work with the safeties. Elimimian will focus on the cornerbacks.
Yoro brings extensive coaching experience to the Rainbow Warriors. Yoro, Suiaunoa and Elimimian were defensive coordinators before joining the UH staff.
Yoro was a defensive coordinator at Pacific for five years. He coached Cal Poly’s defensive secondary the past two seasons. Yoro coached eight years for Hawaii high school teams, including six at Saint Louis, where he was defensive coordinator in 2005-2007.
Marc Moody, a graduate assistant who helps run UH’s scout team, played under Yoro at Saint Louis and Pacific. Moody was the defensive line coach when Yoro was Pacific’s defensive coordinator. Moody then was promoted to defensive coordinator when Yoro moved to Cal Poly.
“He’s a good guy,” said Saint Louis coach Cal Lee, who coached Yoro. Lee recalled how a knee injury forced Yoro to miss the regular season as a senior. “Then he came back for the Prep Bowl,” Lee said. “Not too many kids get an operation, miss the whole season, and come back for the championship. He was a tough player.”
The Warriors open spring training today with the first of 15 practices through March 23. The earlier spring-training period is timed to end before the school’s spring break.
