In the aftermath of his football team’s surprising season, it was no surprise Hawaii’s Nick Rolovich was named the Mountain West Conference’s Coach of the Year.
Right slotback Cedric Byrd was the only Rainbow Warrior chosen to the All-Mountain West first team.
UH quarterback Cole McDonald, right wideout JoJo Ward and left tackle Ilm Manning were selected to the second team.
Corneracks Cortez Davis and Rojesterman Farris II, linebacker Solomon Matautia, rush end Kaimana Padello, right tackle Gene Pryor, center Taaga Tuulima, and nose tackle Blessman Ta‘ala received honorable mention.
The league’s 12 head coaches and select media members made the picks.
Boise State junior defensive back Kekaula Kaniho, a Kahuku alumnus, made the first team.
In July, the Warriors were predicted to finish fourth in the West Division. But the Warriors went 9-4 during the regular season, and will represent the West against Mountain champion Boise State in Saturday’s Mountain West championship game in Boise.
“I’m grateful for the coaching staff and the support staff and the effort these players put in this year,” Rolovich told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser following Wednesday’s morning practice.
Rolovich said he does not seek individual awards. A person familiar with the process said Rolovich did not vote for himself.
“I try to win games,” Rolovich said. “It’s a nice honor. I appreciate it. A lot of guys deserve it. … The conference is full of great coaches. I enjoy being part of (the league).”
According to his contract, Rolovich is entitled to $20,000 for being named the league’s top coach. He previously has said he would share a portion of his bonuses with his staff.
Byrd, a senior, is leading the league in receptions (91) and second in touchdown catches (10). “It’s great,” Byrd said of the first-team selection. “I put in a lot of hard work.”
But Byrd said he does not “pay attention to single awards. I care about team wins.”
Byrd, who grew up in Long Beach, Calif., was set to attend Syracuse as a freshman. But Syracuse pulled the offer to sign a defensive end. “I ended up going the JUCO route,” said Byrd, who eventually joined the Warriors in January 2018. “I’m here now. I’m happy to be here.”
McDonald finished second at quarterback behind San Jose State’s Josh Love. McDonald was UH’s full-time starter for the first nine games, but has split duties with Chevan Cordeiro the past four games. McDonald still leads the MWC with 29 touchdown passes, seven more than Love.
McDonald said he appreciates the recognition, but it is the “relationships and friendships we make here that are going to last a lifetime. … Being here with these guys, where I call them 20, 30, 40 years down the line and say, ‘How are you doing? How’s the family?’Making those friendships now, with those great group of guys, it’s pretty special to think these are the men you’re going to have along with you the rest of your life. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Ward echoed McDonald’s sentiments.
“I’m more of a team guy,” Ward said. “I like the team awards better than the individual awards. If I get first or second team, it really doesn’t matter much to me. As long as we finish the season with our main goal, that’s where my heart is going to be the happiest.”
Ward, who leads the MWC with 11 scoring receptions, moved to Hawaii a week before the start of the 2018 training camp. Even after his arrival, other schools tried to recruit him.
“I was here already,” Ward said. “I made my commitment to the coaches. I stuck with it.”
Manning, a sophomore, has started every game since the 2018 opener. “I just play to win,” Manning said. “I’m doing my job, and trying to be as successful as possible at what I do. I’m grateful for (the second-team honor). It’s hard to get recognition at this level.”
