Quotes from the local papers

HA Note: "Committee Co-Chairs will be Associate Athletics Director Carl Clapp and Hinshaw.

The members are:

Tony Guerrero, Chair of Ahahui Koa Anuenue and Vice Chair of First Hawaiian Bank
Adam Leonard, UHM student-athlete and football team member
Debra Ishii, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, UHM
Dee Jay Mailer, CEO of the Kamehameha Schools
Peter Nicholson, UHM Professor and Faculty Athletics Representative
John K. Tsui, Chair of Towne Realty Development and former President and Chief Operating Officer of First Hawaiian Bank
Artie Wilson, Partner and Realtor, Prudential Locations"

About their coaching search committee, Hinshaw said:
"We will move quickly to select the best possible candidate to serve as our head football coach. The new coach must be someone who can lead a smooth transition for current team members, who appreciates the special connection between UH athletics and the people of Hawai'i, and who will continue to produce successful student-athletes. The members of the selection committee were chosen for their understanding of the relationship between UH athletics and our community." (HA)

About his role on the search committee, Adam said:
"Hopefully, I'll get to speak for the team. There's a leadership quality that we're looking for. We want a person that cares about the players on the team. We don't want to be just a stop for somebody trying to build his resume. The coach should be dedicated to the players on this team and to the state." (HA)

Trying to keep an open mind though understanding the appeal of hiring from within the staff, Adam said:
"In any situation when a head coach leaves, the other coaches on the staff are able to help with a smoother transition because they've already built a relationship with the players. At the same time, you never know if there's a head coach from the outside that can come in and maintain the flow." (HA)

About how JJ will "very likely" participate in their January 20 Parade of Champions, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said:
"I told him we want him to come back so we can say mahalo for all his years of service and contributions to Hawai'i. He said it's on his priority list, and he would make every effort to come." (HA)

About HF's candidacy for the just-opened position of USA Track & Field CEO, USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said:
"The (USATF) board meets this weekend to begin the process, so it is too early to speculate on possible candidates." (HA)

About HF's candidacy for that job, a friend of HF said:
"He's a natural. It is a job he would have still had an interest in even if he was still (employed) there in Hawai'i." (HA)

No willing to say if he had an interest in UH's AD job, but clear that he's not interested in the coaching job, Dick Tomey said:
"I just know that I love my job here." (HA)

About how he hasn't been contacted by anyone "officially" from UH and not saying if he'd pursue the job, Tomey said:
"I'm not going to speculate." (HA)

About how he was a leading candidate for the AD job in 2002 but lost out to HF, Tomey said:
"I went down that road before and I'm not interested in doing that in the same way." (HA)

HA Note: "Tomey, 69, has a clause in his San Jose State contract that would require a buy-out if he left for a coaching job but apparently not for an athletic director's position. The San Jose Mercury News said the buyout was $900,000 on a contract that runs through 2010. Tomey reportedly has an annual salary of $450,000."

Tomey released this statement a few days ago about the UH rumors:
"In the past several days there has been much speculation connecting me to the University of Hawaii. I have not had official contact with the University of Hawaii. President Don Kassing, Tom Bowen and San Jose State University have given us every opportunity to be a successful football program. It would take a very, very compelling opportunity for us to leave San Jose and the situation that they have afforded us here. I have communicated that to them (President Kassing, Tom Bowen) since this speculation began.

My wife, Nanci, and I have a home in Hawai'i; it is a special place for us. I have said all along that Hawai'i is the only place we would consider relocating to and at some point in our future, we will. Today my coaching staff and I are moving ahead and are focused on the 2008 season. We have an important recruiting weekend ahead of us, we're excited about the way our recruiting is going and I'm ready to get back to work." (HA)