Calling it a "very invigorating opportunity," former Hawaii football coach Dick Tomey will make his first move into administration, becoming associate athletic director for sports administration at the University of South Florida this month.

Tomey, 76, will primarily oversee the Bulls’ football program.

"It is just fun to jump into something you’ve never done before in a new place with new people and a new job," Tomey said Wednesday. "I’ll try to help where I can, assist where I can … and keep my mouth shut as much as I can."

Tomey was head coach at UH (1977-86) going 63-46-3. He also served as head coach at Arizona for 14 seasons (1987-2000) and five at San Jose State (2005-09). His overall record is 183-145-7. He is in athletic halls of fame at both UH and UA.

"Dick has a tireless passion for intercollegiate athletics and I am confident that his expertise will not only assist our football program, but our entire department," USF athletic director Mark Harlan said in a release.

Harlan was a friend of Tomey’s son, Rich, and a neighbor when Tomey was an assistant coach at UCLA in the 1970s. Harlan served as a water boy when Tomey coached in the Hula Bowl and was later a student manager and graduate assistant when Tomey coached at Arizona.

"I believe in him and know he will do great things," Tomey said.

Tomey, who has served as a consultant to athletic programs for more than a decade, said he was invited to USF last year.

Tomey said he did not apply for the AD position at UH. "I tried in a couple ways to see if there was any interest and there didn’t seem to be any," Tomey said. "But I didn’t make a real effort. I really didn’t want to be the athletic director or head football coach anyplace, I just want to help."

Tomey said USF agreed to give him the flexibility to work on other projects, including the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.