Report: Hawaii’s new OC hired by Boise State
I’ve never known Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman to get a story wrong. So, unless I hear something to the contrary, this is true, and Zak Hill is leaving the University of Hawaii football coaching staff and headed for Boise State without having coached a down as UH’s offensive coordinator.
We don’t know how much of a loss this is for UH, but it surely isn’t a good thing not to have an offensive coordinator as recruiting winds down, a week before letter of intent day.
Also, this means Hawaii will open 2016 with its seventh offensive coordinator in six seasons.
Immediate speculation goes to June Jones and Timmy Chang as possible replacements for Hill. Both are likely available, and both are obviously familiar with UH football and Rolovich.
This is not good for us . Hope there’s someone out there that is loyal to UH.
Are you kidding me?? All the more reason to despise Boise State!!
It’s interesting with the money Boise has to offer for a quality coordinator they sure went for somebody with zero experience as a offensive coordinator. Guess Harsin will be calling the plays next season.
That is messed up. I just lost respect for that guy. Talk about leaving a new HC and a program in rebuild high and dry.
Then again, I don’t think Boise’s last coordinator had much experience either.
Maybe someone should talk to Hill or maybe Rolo
Yeah, you’re right. But if they’re not talking, they’re not talking.
So he’s moved on … might be the best for all. The team is what counts. As for right now, either Rolo or Brian Smith can develop the offense … both have been offensive coordinators. I have nothing against June but Rolo was moving away from my beloved run-n-shoot so we need to give him time to bring in an OC he’s comfortable with. As much as we all remember the glory of run-n-shoot style play, that boat has seemingly sailed.
Just my opinion
And before you get too outraged, don’t forget Nick Rolovich committed to UMass and left for Nevada before coaching a down a couple of years ago.
I think he also accepted the Temple job before Polian asked him to stay.
#8 DR … ooh, that is a good point. Still, different circumstances. Rolo stayed with UMASS until after signing day and the UMASS HC was the offensive play caller anyway or so I have read. Hill was slated to have control over the offense and is leaving just ahead of signing day. There is already some speculation about recruit poaching. That, of course, is yet to be seen. But still, you do bring up a good point that I had forgotten.
Where do we go from here? I saw Rolo’s twitter page said there was going to be a cyber press conference. Anyone know what time or where it will be?
June Jones would fill the bill very nicely. No sweat, Rolo! You got you man.
I wonder how will this effect our recruits.
Rumor is they didn’t see eye to eye on recruiting. Rolo is recruiting players that Hill doesn’t think he should. But again, just a rumor.
Why would a recruit believe Hill if he tries to take them to Boise he might leave if he gets a better offer. Playing for the team I want to play for to me is more important then playing for a coach. I would think being here is a way better environment than on the mainland. There’s nothing better than the people, beaches, food and being a Warrior! Let’s build it to what it can be and what it use to be. Be the start of something great again.
I’m disappointed for Rolo but these things happen. Maybe this is bachi for past decisions. I hope Rolo will now give June Jones an opportunity to come back as our offense coordinator. The man loves Hawaii and won’t be going off to another program any time soon. JJ had the wisdom to hire his old coaches Glanville and Mouse Davis. I don’t know if Rolo is intimadated by JJ or if their relationship soured over the years.
With no Hawaii connections this is what happens. Lesson to be learned by Coach
Rolo.. Someone who bleeds green will step up to be the new O.C.
Hummmm, I would hate to be ZH explaining to potential recruits about commitments.
UH & Rolovich needs to regroup. Stuff happens. The former OC at Boise State earned $300.000. Hard to turn down that type of money, coaching opportunity, and facilities at Boise State.
Promote Brian Smith as the OC. Just have to “move on.”
And the qb he was recruiting committed to Eastern Washington. I guess they both just came for the trip.
Hope those contracts have no loop holes.
i think Rolovich wants to move forward with his own offense, not one with June Jones calling the plays. And did Rolovich get along well with Timmy ?
Good one, Dave, on your own comment. Ultimately, you have to look out for your own self, not what others want you to do. Good for them (Milton included). It won’t affect me. In every case, I am look forward to getting my season tickets, inner-circle parking pass, and any applicable premium seat contributions/koa anuenue funding for next season.
Overall, the news of the past two days has been good. In my opinion, Keala Santiago is a huge recruiting get.
This is a lesson learned by Coach Rolo regarding hiring of (some) coaches with no ties to the program or Hawaii. I kn0w qualified coaches with Hawaii ties are hard to come by but they’re out there. Hope Coach Hill does well at Boise cause he’ll have to explain his move to other prospective programs if he doesn’t,
We’re still with you Warriors!
Yup, stuff happens. Like if a player gets injured, next man up. In this case, maybe Rolo interested. Anyway, next man up.
23. Agree. I’m happy.
Timmy Chang was not retained by Jackson State new head coach…why not Chang
Kefense Hynson
Rolo will need a good qb coach. That is what Hill will be at Boise. I hope we can find one.
The situations with Rolo were not comparable. He was only at UMass for about two weeks, and took the Nevada offer a week AFTER signing day. He had the Temple job for a grand total of ten days before going back to Nevada, and that was a MONTH before signing day. Hill has been here seven weeks, has put together an offensive strategy, and has actively recruited players to be part of his offense. For him to leave a week prior to signing day is much more potentially damaging to UH than Rolo’s departures from UMass and Temple.
At least he didn’t quit in mid season. But, the timing is awful because signing day is around the corner.
I wander though when he got off the plane, what was his reaction. For Clune, he had to wait a full season to leave. Zak Hill’s exit strategy out of Hawaii took less than 2 months. Whatever the case, he probably will have a raise in pay and be closer to his home.
I hope this revolving door of coaches stop and there will be some form of continuity again within the football program.
Oops…I wonder though…
Anyway, I hope Rolo figures our his next move fast. No OC going into spring ball?
Former Warrior head football coach June Jones or former Warrior quarterback Tim Chang suggestions to replace Zack Hill sounds super to me. I’d like to see former Warriors back at our Warrior football team. Zack hill smelled the money was a lot more at Boise and left Hawaii for it. Zack Hill don’t know Hawaii and is not from Hawaii much less a former Warrior. Rolo!! hire your mentor June Jones…
Timmy Chang is interested. June Jones is sticking with Kapolei unless his NFL opportunity comes through.
29. They certainly are comparable, in the fact that UMass hired Rolovich and expected that he would stick around for at least one season. Is Hill’s timing worse? Yes. But at its core Rolovich did the same thing to UMass that Hill did to Hawaii.
Rolo already has an OC on staff.
34. Well Dave we’ll just have to agree to disagree. In my opinion the timing makes all the difference.
I work in a business where we do projects. People who work here arrive at the beginning of a project and commit to work to the end. Those who keep their commitment and stay for the whole project are considered trustworthy and get hired for more projects. If someone leaves close to the beginning or end of the project, when the impact is minimal, there are no hard feelings. But anyone who hightails it out the door in the middle of the project, when the impact is high and the rest of the team has to bust a gut to make up for the unexpected departure, is considered unreliable and never works here again.
The most important first project for the new UH coaching staff is to recruit a 2016 class that will be the foundation for turning around the program, and Zak Hill who came on at the start of that project and has been a key driver of it is abandoning the team at the project’s most critical juncture. Rolo never committed that sin.
One thing the team has lacked for a while is that one team we want to beat so bad it hurts. That team that builds up a festering hate in the collective Warrior gut. For years that team was BYU. Now, with the coaching poaching…I think it’s Boise State’s turn to be that object of disdain for our Warriors. I bet the defense will be extra hyped to shut down the Boise offense.
Agree. It’s the next man up. Kefense Hynson has OC experience at Montana.
Hire Miano.
Nice to have a football blog again. Thanks DR.
I’d be happy with all the above suggestions but would
add Colt Brennan into the mix 🙂
40. Sometimes fans don’t seem to get it that these coaches have actual families that they rightfully prioritize. I’m never going to fault someone for doing what is best for his family. Rolovich basically said the same thing himself, noting Hill’s wife is pregnant and that Boise can pay him a lot more than UH can, in an area with a much better economy than Hawaii.
I wonder if anyone that is complaining about what Hill did would not do the same thing given the same set of circumstances … a better job in just about any way you evaluate it, and closer to where his aging parents live.
Also, your analogy is flawed. When the contracts are at least one year for assistants, not just through letter of intent day, “the project” is the entire season, not just recruiting season. Go ahead and measure it by degrees if it makes you feel better as a fan, though. It’s breaking a commitment whenever you leave after you’ve agreed to accept the job up to the length of the contract (or at least the end of the season). But as we see in recruiting, the word “commitment” doesn’t mean a whole lot in college sports.
Well, with the departures of Mckenzie Milton and now Zak Hill, looks like someone popped a couple caps into the The Lion King’s azz. Meow.
This is worse then kapakahi or kalakoa like it’s all about connection like it’s all about who you know or let me out of here like the ka…ka, is getting really thick almost similar to international soccer federation like so much strings attached like those who seek coaching position elsewhere are very honest with,..”if you in, you’ll be inform like right away,.. if you not, don’t wait to be inform but leave when you got an opening elsewhere;…this thing about June Jones doesn’t guarantee UH miracles but like what’s really a let down with any coaching staff is funding,..or not enough of it like these young recruits sure can sense the quality in where and what they want;…if June Jones want better salary and recognition and like full 100% control and directing,..then try going west to Japan to coach collegiate or cooperate pro league,..like the major universties can really use him over in Japan yet overhere in Hawaii Nei, he’s just a distraction everytime his name appears.
Rolo, is looking for coaches who want to be here. He made his first and hopefully only bad choice.
I can understand his added family, but he knew before he committed about the cost of living here. His parents were elderly when he committed. And he knew the financial situation here with the program. If he didn’t know all this already then I don’t think we want him. I personally did not think he would fit in here just by his looks. Sorry, but he fits Boise. He has no honor.
I don’t think Peterson would have done that.
How is stephen Tsai doing. We need him back.
.
49. No we don’t.
After listening to Rolo explain the Hill situation, I can understand.