Greg McMackin Accepts

UPDATE: Here's the official news release from the UH Athletics Department. Some excerpts:

"I am honored and very humbled to accept the head coaching position at the University of Hawai'i," McMackin said. "June Jones can never be replaced. He has done so many great things for the program, the university and the state of Hawai'i and his legacy will never be forgotten. My destiny is to keep the program headed in that same direction and to maintain the continuity with our current players and recruiting base."

"I have so many people to thank including President (David) McClain, Chancellor Hinshaw, Na Koa and all the people who supported me, from the fans to the boosters," McMackin said. "But the main people I'd like to thank are the players, who this program is all about. They're the ones who went 12-0 and got us to the Sugar Bowl."

The release also has words of praise from June Jones, Dennis Erickson, Mike Leach, Mouse Davis and Gerald Myers. Some excerpts from that:

"He's one of my closest friends and he worked for me at a number of different places (San Francisco, Seattle, and Miami). The University of Hawai`i is very fortunate to have him. I'm excited because he really deserves this opportunity. He served as my defensive coordinator at Seattle and Miami. We always had one of the top defenses at Miami and had a great defense with the Seahawks as well. Not only is he a great defensive coach, he's an outstanding football coach. He has great knowledge of the game and will be a great leader."
Dennis Erickson
Arizona State University, Head Coach

"Greg's a great coach and will do a tremendous job with the program. I know he has strong feelings with the state of Hawai`i and the university. He's a great candidate and I'm sure the people there will be very happy. Greg has a great mind for defense which is very critical. But the best thing he does is the way he handles his players."
Mike Leach
Texas Tech University, Head Coach

And that's not all, the UH Athletics website front page has a "Back Coach Mack" link where you can place a deposit for 2008 season tickets!

Season ticket prices and premium seat contributions will remain the same as last year and the department has set a goal of selling 30,000 season tickets for the 2008 season.

The $50 deposit (per order, not per ticket) will be applied to fans’ new season-ticket purchases. Deposits can be paid online or at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office.

Current season-ticket holders will be mailed renewal information in February and they will not need to place a deposit for additional seat requests.

Following the renewal period, fans that place a deposit for new season tickets will be called back in the order in which their deposit was received to select their seats and finalize payment. Call backs will begin in May.

Fans placing a deposit for new season tickets by Friday, February 29, will receive a certificate redeemable for four (4) free tickets to a 2008 UH baseball game or men’s volleyball match (based on availability). They will also qualify for the chance to win a Trip for Two to Las Vegas, compliments of Vacations Hawaii.

Be there!

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Stephen Tsai writes that Greg McMackin accepted UH's offer to become the Warriors' new head coach.

Greg McMackin last night accepted an offer to become the University of Hawai'i head football coach, The Advertiser learned.

McMackin will be introduced as June Jones' successor during a news conference at 8 this morning in the Ed Wong Hospitality Room in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Tsai writes that according to sources, Ron Lee will be offensive coordinator, Cal Lee will be defensive coordinator, Rich Miano will receive an "expanded role" and George Lumpkin will remain on staff. There's no mention of Jeff Reinebold. The article continues:

Former Warriors Nick Rolovich and Brian Smith are expected to be invited to join the staff as assistant coaches.

The Advertiser also has a "breaking news" article with more details about the staff. This article will probably be updated throughout the day.

Dave Reardon has quotes from McMackin and George Lumpkin about being interviewed by the committee last night.

Lumpkin said his interview went for more than an hour.

"It's a good committee, they asked good questions and I answered them the best I could," Lumpkin, also 58, said. "I appreciated the opportunity to interview and bring forth some of my concerns."

And Ferd Lewis writes about the significance of Greg McMackin staying with UH.

For all the "Believe!" signs of the season just past, here's a living, breathing one for the present — and future.

Had McMackin high-tailed it to Dallas along with Jones and some of the others, it would have been a particularly damning loss. Not just of a coach, but of a face for the program at a time when appearances are everything.

If the top assistant —which is what McMackin was in 2007 — split under such circumstances, the handwriting would have been plainly visible. Neon script that would have said: Disaster area, beware.

If the leading assistant didn't stick around to contend for the top job, then why should a prospective recruit commit?

McMackin's U-turn after first contemplating following Jones to SMU suggested that not only did someone who has spent the last 17 years as an assistant want a head coaching job, but that he valued the equity in this program enough to stay and compete for this one.

Congratulations to Greg McMackin. Can't wait to see what he and his assistants will do for the program.