I Heart Rich MIano

[MauiGuy]

I don't think #1 is a poor choice. Head Coach experience is Head Coach experience. There's no substitute for it. There are good ones and poor ones, that's just a fact. But at that level, a good HC goes a long way.

[giversgain]

Miano is a great choice. Why? Because he won't cost a lot, he loves the program, he has mainland ties, he knows a lot of people in Hawaii and most of all he is an Winner/overachiever. Here's the kicker, when you become a HC, you have the option of delegating your authority to the right people. Exactly how a Saban has let Kiffin run the offense. In this case, I believe Miano will hire the best staff to run their positions. Don't underestimate the guy, he's a good delegator/facilitator. He fits the HC position.

[cabanalane]

Miano would've been a great choice the last hiring go-around.

Miano was not a great choice because UH needed a big name head coach. Norm Chow was that big name.

Miano would now be a great choice because a no-name first time head coach, surely....can get better results.

The bar has been lowered. Miano would be my #1 choice. Not because he is the "best." Because UH program can only go up. Less financial risk.

Looking forward to a 6-6 season (with the next head coach.)

[poidog]

Miano is a great choice. Why? Because he won't cost a lot, he loves the program, he has mainland ties, he knows a lot of people in Hawaii and most of all he is an Winner/overachiever. Here's the kicker, when you become a HC, you have the option of delegating your authority to the right people. Exactly how a Saban has let Kiffin run the offense. In this case, I believe Miano will hire the best staff to run their positions. Don't underestimate the guy, he's a good delegator/facilitator. He fits the HC position.

I agree with this a lot. At this point in time, I really don't want another "Guru"-type head coach who is a supposed "genius" on one side of the ball. just give me someone who will hire good assistant coaches, manage the clock, and won't embarrass the university.

[poidog]

He and Lumpkin were co-defensive coordinators in what was the worst defense in the JJ-era.

After watching the 2004 season, I was pretty sure that Lumpkin had final say over the defense that year. But to be fair, the defense did kind of turn things around towards the end of that season when they made their run to get bowl-eligible. Once Lumpkin simplified the defense and guys like Kevin Jackson figured out how to play their positions, the defense got better. Heck, they had Tony Akpan playing defensive tackle! The main reason they were in charge of the defense was because JJ wasn't interested in hiring a new DC. He never brought in anyone new other than Reinebold after Lempa left.

As far as Miano's secondaried were concerned, they may have struggled at Corner and often had trouble covering good TE's, there were a lot of good safeties that came thru the defensive backfield and many made all conference. I was going to try to name them, but there have been so many solid safeties between 1999 and 2011 that I can't even try to name them all without forgetting someone.

[EITSwarrior]

Miano would've been a great choice the last hiring go-around.

Miano was not a great choice because UH needed a big name head coach. Norm Chow was that big name.

Miano would now be a great choice because a no-name first time head coach, surely....can get better results.

The bar has been lowered. Miano would be my #1 choice. Not because he is the "best." Because UH program can only go up. Less financial risk.

Looking forward to a 6-6 season (with the next head coach.)

I strongly disagree with UH needing a big name head coach at that time. I felt at the time the football team needed a somewhat young energetic coach who could be a long-term or transitional coach if people felt Rolo was worthy of head-coaching consideration with a few more seasons under his belt. Miano would've also kept most of the staff intact. And I wanted a coach that was more defensive minded since that's what was broken at the time. Plus I wanted a coach who would at least not blow-up a working offense. And finally UH would've not have to break the bank for Miano.


I look at what's been done at Oregon the past couple of decades. They've totally rebranded themselves from logo to uniforms and to offense. And they hire their head coaches from within ensuring a continuity among the coaching staff that I believe helps recruiting (though having the facilities Oregon has does help.....A LOT) and player performance. UH was well on their way in doing that with the new Tapa H logo, uniforms and the RNS. But well, all that good work has gone to poop with the return of the "Rainbow" name and logo, and Chow ball. Hiring Miano or Rolo would've prevented that I think. Of course the think-tank at UH don't think logically like that, so here we are in our current hole.

I respect what the Rainbow logo and name meant, but it's time in the forefront should be over and be left to retro night.

[808Hawaii]

I do.
I am a fan of UH Football. Rich Miano will always be a legend in my UH Football book.
He was a warrior when he played. And he is as great as an ambassador of UH football as any UH legend named Sapolu, Noga, Satele, or Kafentzis.
For these and all other sentimental reasons, I am a huge Rich Miano fan.

But I can't seem to find myself gushing over any possibility of he being the next head coach. And these are for all practical reasons. I may be totally wrong. But for all practical reasons, does he have the body of evidence to warrant he being the next head coach? Does the evidence clearly indicate front runnership? What would we be looking for in the next head coach? One who is an awesome, legendary ambassador? Or one who has been a college head coach previously? Should the next head coach have established a resume of coaching beyond the shores of Hawaii?

If we went with Rich Miano, that would be some roll of the dice.........again.

Just like when we hired Norm Chow. Rolled the dice. Went beyond the practical thinking of the then AD. And rolled snake eyes.

Same goes for the sentimental grab with folks suggesting Cal Lee as a possible next coach. My friends, let's not make this any harder than it is.

Whew. It's hard to listen to these post-loss fan phones on 1420.

I wouldn't mind giving Manoa a chance. He's a very hard worker and is very dedicated to UH. He's given back so much to our community. Not my first choice but wouldn't be terribly disappointed if he was named Chow's successor.

Fan Phones are most interesting after game when we get creamed.

[808Hawaii]

I'm not necessarily calling for the next coach to come from some high profile program like SC or Bama. My last question explains it further -- should the next head coach have an established (successful) resume of coaching beyond the shores of Hawaii? Let's play a quick game of "who would you choose?"

1- Highly successful Division 1-AA head coach in California. Spent majority of his career in the JUCO, NAIA, D2, D-AA ranks, and was highly successful in each of his stops. His teams reached the national semifinals in D1-AA in each of the past 3 years. Long history of working with Polynesians and Hawaii players. For the past 5 years, his teams have been among the best in the country.
2- Successful up and coming offensive coordinator from a peer-level school. Hmmm, someone like Rolo.
3-Miano

Just for fun, who would you chose?

JJ, Babers, Rolo, Miano. That's my top four.

[808Hawaii]

Miano is a great choice. Why? Because he won't cost a lot, he loves the program, he has mainland ties, he knows a lot of people in Hawaii and most of all he is an Winner/overachiever. Here's the kicker, when you become a HC, you have the option of delegating your authority to the right people. Exactly how a Saban has let Kiffin run the offense. In this case, I believe Miano will hire the best staff to run their positions. Don't underestimate the guy, he's a good delegator/facilitator. He fits the HC position.

To think if we open up the position and would fill it with Miano as a minimum, Let's do it!

[808Hawaii]

Miano would've been a great choice the last hiring go-around.

Miano was not a great choice because UH needed a big name head coach. Norm Chow was that big name.

Miano would now be a great choice because a no-name first time head coach, surely....can get better results.

The bar has been lowered. Miano would be my #1 choice. Not because he is the "best." Because UH program can only go up. Less financial risk.

Looking forward to a 6-6 season (with the next head coach.)

I don't think we need a big name coach. With all the buyouts we have, we need someone cheap. 6-6 would be enough to satisfy me. Main thing is getting to the Hawaii Bowl.

[Palolo_2LA]

Miano would've been a great choice the last hiring go-around.

Miano was not a great choice because UH needed a big name head coach. Norm Chow was that big name.

Miano would now be a great choice because a no-name first time head coach, surely....can get better results.

The bar has been lowered. Miano would be my #1 choice. Not because he is the "best." Because UH program can only go up. Less financial risk.

Looking forward to a 6-6 season (with the next head coach.)

I don't think we need a big name coach. With all the buyouts we have, we need someone cheap. 6-6 would be enough to satisfy me. Main thing is getting to the Hawaii Bowl.

+ Agree...need a guy with a good offensive system, has a willingness to delegate & can recruit good talent for his system