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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
New University of Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich speaks at a news conference this morning at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Saying, “In my heart I never left,” Nick Rolovich returned to the University Hawaii today after a four-year absence to take over as the Rainbow Warriors’ new head football coach.
Rolovich played quarterback (2000-01) and coached (2008-11) at UH but spent the past four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Nevada.
Early in his introductory campus press conference today, Rolovich told Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman and athletic director David Matlin, who hired him, “Thank you for trusting me with this place.”
The 36-year-old replaces Chris Naeole, who served as interim head coach for the final four games of a 3-10 season following the Nov. 1 dismissal of Norm Chow.
Rolovich agreed to a four-year contract that will pay him a base salary of $400,008 in each of the first two years and $425,004 thereafter with bonus provisions.
Rolovich said he plans to begin recruiting “immediately” while also hiring a coaching staff, but he said he won’t rush the hiring process. “I want to get the right guys rather than quick guys.”
He said he will hire an offensive coordinator. “I don’t plan on calling the plays. I want to be the best head coach possible,” Rolovich said.
He said his wish is to implement an “attacking” offense and defense.
The new coach used a Disney metaphor to explain what he wants to bring to his alma mater.
“I have four kids … a lot of Disney movies,” said Rolovich. “We’re watching ‘Lion King’ two years back. I liken us a lot to Pride Rock. We were great once. We can be great again. We can all be Simba. It’s going to take all of us. We all are Simba. Do one thing better today to help this program … and we can be great again. Pride Rock has a chance.”
What were you hired for and what will you do if you don’t coach the offense and/or call the plays? That’s the reason that you were hired and have fan support. If you abandon the Run and Shoot, you may start to lose support. Sure, its difficult to do both but not impossible.
head coaches manage the team. they usually don’t call plays.
Off topic SA, but this new format is terrible.
painful but gotta get used to new things. the looks are much more pleasing
Bring back the old format. The new one is hard to maneuver.
Good luck Rolo! Go gettum!
This is awkward, at best!
Never heard Nick address the media before. Very heart warming and sincere. Like this choice. GoBows!
so was ur heart like oops i forgot that i left HI? u gonna make as much as potus so i guess who wouldnt say dat?
His speech wasn’t planned and I liked what he said. The OC will call the plays meaning it’s going to be June Jones. Go Bows!!