Hawaii, Arizona planning to honor Dick Tomey at football season-opener

The University of Hawaii is talking to Arizona about plans to honor the schools’ late football coach, Dick Tomey, at their Aug. 24 season opener.

The Aloha Stadium game is scheduled to be shown by the CBS Sports Network.

Tomey, who divided 24 of his 29 years as a head coach at the two schools, died Friday in Tucson, Ariz. He was 80.

He is the winningest coach in Wildcats history (95-64 in 14 seasons) and held the same distinction with the Rainbow Warriors (63-46-3 in 10) until being overtaken by June Jones (76-41) in 2006.

“We have had discussions with UA already (and) we also plan to discuss with the Tomey family,” UH athletic director David Matlin said in an email. He said there have also been conversations with San Jose State, where Tomey also served as head coach for five seasons.

UH plays San Jose State on Nov. 9 at Aloha Stadium in a Mountain West Conference game. The Rainbow Warriors have two more nonconference games with Arizona after this season, 2020 in Tucson and 2025 here.

Tomey’s son, Rich, said the family was aware of the discussions but didn’t have details yet. “It would be cool if both teams could wear something in his honor maybe?,” Rich Tomey said in an email. “Or, play in the uniforms that were around when he was coaching both teams? Any tribute is greatly appreciated!”

Meanwhile, memorial services for Tomey will be held May 31 at the McKale Center on the Arizona campus, the family announced. They will run from 9 to 11 a.m.

A post-memorial celebration for family, friends, ex-players and out-of-town guests will be held at 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Crybaby Ranch, 4761 E. Ft. Lowell in Tucson.

Services are also being planned for Honolulu in July but have yet to be set, the family said.