Quick Reads

Some details were released about Nick Rolovich’s compensation at his introductory news conference today. As Ferd Lewis reported in the Star-Advertiser this morning, according to sources, Rolovich’s base salary is $400,000 per year. If UH decides to buy him out (termination without cause), the remainder of the contract base salary, with a limit of $150,000 for the fourth year will be owed to Rolovich. The contract is for four years. Performance incentives include $40,000 for winning the Mountain West West […]

Of course they’re disappointed. But no one should be surprised that June Jones and Rich Miano did not take long to express support for Nick Rolovich, whose hiring as the new head coach of the University of Hawaii football team was announced Friday. After all, they’re brothers in the fraternity of UH players, and they coached together during some good years. They all want the same thing: for UH football to return to relevance and prominence. Jones and Miano were […]

Just got an email from UH. Rolovich, the former Warriors quarterback and assistant coach, will be introduced Monday at a news conference on campus. I think this is a good choice. -Rolovich has experience with multiple offenses. He learned the run-and-shoot from June Jones, Mouse Davis and Ron Lee, and the pistol from Chris Ault. -He isn’t as exciting a pick as Jones, but he isn’t as polarizing, either. He is a coach the state can rally around, and he […]

Sportscaster Francesca Weems has left Hawaii News Now and started today as an account executive at Communications Pacific. “I’m looking forward to applying my skills in broadcast to this new venture,” Weems said. “There will be aspects including social media, marketing, media relations. A lot of working with clients on how they will market themselves and deal with crisis management. I’m excited to do something new and I thank (Communications Pacific CEO) Kitty Lagareta for the opportunity.” Weems has not […]

Former Punahou School teammates DeForest Buckner and Ka’imi Fairbairn are among the five finalists for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. In addition to Buckner, a defensive end at Oregon, and Fairbairn, a kicker at UCLA, Su’a Cravens (linebacker, USC), Juju Smith-Schuster (receiver, USC) and Ronnie Stanley (offensive lineman, Notre Dame) are the finalists announced today. The winner of the award sponsored and selected by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame will be announced Dec. 8, and […]

I wouldn’t trade jobs with anyone in the world, except maybe Anthony Bourdain — and only for a year at the most. But this isn’t always fun, especially when you have to cover a struggling team. Saturdays are a little better than the previous couple of weeks since I don’t have to keep asking a man who had spent decades building a reputation as one of the best assistant coaches in the country about his job security as a first-time […]

The first five minutes of Hawaii’s mens basketball season-opener last night against Montana State was close to a perfect blend of what the fans, the players and first-year head coach Eran Ganot all want to see out of the Rainbow Warriors this season. The best of both worlds. Excitement and discipline. And a 10-point lead. The Rainbows spent the next 20 minutes expanding that lead to 26 points, and then gave back most of it to stagger in with an […]

I believe players have the best perspective on coaches … especially after they’ve finished their careers and have been out in the world a bit. So I asked former UH football players for their opinions on who should be the next head coach at their alma mater. Also, see today’s column for the opinions of Colt Brennan, David Maeva, Jesse Sapolu and others: Nick (Rolovich) was such a great player and I haven’t seen how he is as a coach […]