LAS VEGAS » For the Mountain West Conference, it is a meet-the-press event. For the Hawaii football team, it is a new-products show.

“I really feel we have a better team this year,” said UH left tackle Ben Clarke, a senior and co-captain. Clarke and quarterback Max Wittek are representing the Rainbow Warriors at the MWC football media days in Las Vegas.

The Warriors were 4-9 in 2014 and 8-29 during Norm Chow’s first three seasons as UH head coach. But there are three new coordinators — Don Bailey on offense, Tom Mason on defense and Jake Cookus on special teams — a new starting quarterback (Wittek) and the hopeful optimism that usually blossoms during the offseason.

“People should be excited for this year because, I think, the mind-set is a little bit different,” said Wittek, who redshirted as a walk-on in 2014 after transferring from USC. Wittek, who ran the offense’s scout team last year, had several options when he opted notto return to USC after the 2013 season, most notably offers from Texas and Louisville.

“I picked Hawaii because of Coach Chow and the relationship I had built with him since high school,” Wittek said.

Wittek played at California’s prestigious Mater Dei High, whose alumni include Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and former Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan. Chow was USC’s offensive coordinator when Leinart won the Heisman. Wittek also trained under Steve Clarkson, a quarterback specialist and one of Chow’s closest friends.

Wittek blended easily during last season’s workouts and meetings. As a transfer, he was allowed to practice but not play in any games. “I tried to show people I cared,” Wittek said, “that I was really here because I wanted to be here and not because this was a step I had to take. That was first things first.”

The past spring, Wittek moved ahead of Ikaika Woolsey, who was the Warriors’ starting quarterback for 12 of 13 games last season. Although Wittek was named No. 1 on the post-spring depth chart, Wittek and Woolsey remain good friends.

“That was something that was the same for me at USC,” Wittek said of the quarterback camaraderie. “While it is a very competitive situation — and you try to compete as hard as you can on the field — there’s no reason, really, to bring that off the field. I think we have a lot to learn from each other.”

This summer the Warriors have had several team outings, from volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club to hiking.

“I think we’ve come together as a team, doing more things together,” Wittek said. “I think that’s going to show on the field.”