"It's time to get out, relax." (HA)
"The big thing is I'm happy with the decision and I still think the world of (head coach Greg McMackin), the staff and the players. It's a good time for me to go. I feel good about it, but I'm going to miss the players." (HSB)
About how his decision was not based on being demoted from offensive coordinator to assistant offensive coordinator earlier this year or giving up the play-calling duties after the first game last season, Ron Lee said:
"Nothing to do with that." (HA)
Ron Lee said that the adjustment was what:
"I went through last year, kind of. t's time for me to move on." (HA)
About how he will explore some "options", Ron Lee said:
"I'm going to coach again. I'm definitely going to coach." (HA)
About how he will apply for the job opening at UH, Mouse Davis said:
"Absolutely, no question." (HA)
HA Note: "Davis' teams at Portland State set several passing records in the 1970s. Davis and his top pupil, Jones, coached together in the pros. When Davis and Jones were in the U.S. Football League, they were contacted by Lee, who wanted to learn about the intricacies of the run-and-shoot offense — a four-wide passing attack that runs plays based on the particular defensive coverage. Lee successfully implemented the run-and-shoot to win titles at Kaiser High and Saint
Louis School."
About hiring Ron Lee after he accepted the UH coaching job in December 1998, JJ said:
"We've had a connection for a long time. Ron has always been a success wherever he's been. I wanted him on my staff. Ron did a great job with the receivers." (HA)
HA Note: "Of the receivers Lee has coached, 17 broke school records. Ashley Lelie was a first-round draft pick in 2002, and Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins are on the Miami Dolphins' roster. When McMackin was hired as Jones' successor in 2008, he promoted Lee to offensive
coordinator."
Wishing Ron Lee well, Mack said:
"We've known each other for a long time. He's a very good friend. He's a legend in Hawai'i, and he's done a great job here. We wish him well." (HA)
About how Ron Lee told him before Spring Practice that he wanted to leave UH, Mack said:
"Ron Lee is a legend in Hawaii. Ron talked to me prior to spring ball about his wish to retire. I asked him to go through spring ball and told him I would support his decision. Ron and I have been friends for many years. He is a great person who has made an outstanding contribution to football, the University of Hawaii and in the entire state." (HSB)
HA Note: "Lee actually had planned to announce his retirement in February. The assistant coaches are on one-year contracts that expire each March. But McMackin asked Lee to remain on staff through at least spring training, which ended April 30. Lee, who is credited with 22 years of employment in the state system, decided to change his exit from "retirement" to "resignation." "
About leaving UH, Ron Lee said:
"It's not an easy decision. I'll miss the players, the relationships. That's definitely something I'll miss." (HA)
About how this will be the first season in 42 years that he isn't going to coach, Ron Lee said:
"I've coached every year since 1968. This is the first year I wouldn't coach." (HA)
HA Note: "In the meantime, Lee will continue to serve as manager for the Outrigger Hotels' Main Showroom. He also owns several restaurants."
Ferd wrote: For all the explosiveness of some of his offenses, football coach Ron Lee's public persona has for decades been the quiet and understated opposite. Even when his units were putting up big scores at Kaiser High, Saint Louis School and the University of Hawai'i, Lee avoided the limelight like a third-and-long situation. "Talk to the kids," he'd invariably say, "they made all the plays." So, maybe we shouldn't be surprised that his departure from UH after 11 years came with a make-no-waves grace to it. But, if we want to see the total picture, look at not only what is being said but what isn't."
Ferd Wrote: "But, between the lines, note that the 66-year-old Lee is resigning, not stepping into retirement. Understand that he says he plans to coach again, apparently this season. Possibly on the college level. Lee was one of the first assistants June Jones signed on in 1998 and his departure comes as the last remaining offensive member of that coaching staff."
About replacing Ron Lee, Mack said
"I just want to get a good person, a coach who's really top-notch and knows our offense." (HSB)
About all the excellent WRs that Ron Lee coached at UH, Rolo said:
"A lot of people would love to have the amount of miles his guys covered. He's done more than a lot of guys can dream of as far as receiver production." (HSB)
Praising Rolo, Ron Lee said:
"Rolo's got some great ideas. I'm pulling for them and I'll stay in touch." (HSB)
About how he learned under his brother Ron, Cal Lee said:
"I thought learning under his tutelage was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It's going to be different. I'm going to miss him and I think the players will, too. He has that rapport with the kids." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Lee's departure will leave associate head coach Rich Miano (secondary) as the lone assistant remaining from the 1999 staff still working with the same position group. Miano was one of Lee's earliest recruits. Then the head coach at Kaiser, he helped convince Miano, a member of the diving team, to try out for football. That decision eventually led to Miano's standout career at UH and an 11-year run in the NFL."
Praising Ron Lee, Rich Miano said:
"I love the guy. He's not that much older than me, but I think of him as a fatherly figure in terms of how I learned so much from him about the islands and how to treat people." (HSB)
HSB Note: "It's no surprise that Hawaii receivers coach and former offensive coordinator Ron Lee is retiring. This was in the works for some time; when we interviewed Lee and head coach Greg McMackin before spring practice, neither would confirm that the 11-year assistant would be on board in the fall."
HSB Note: "After nine years as receivers coach for June Jones, Lee became McMackin's offensive coordinator. But while nearly all of the offensive starters from the Sugar Bowl team were gone in 2008, Lee's first season as OC, expectations remained sky high. Lee was forced into some conservative play-calling by the strategic situation (a good defense and an inexperienced offense featuring a quarterback carousel), and he was criticized for it. Then, last year. One game into the season Lee suggested to McMackin that Nick Rolovich, the second-year quarterbacks coach, be given the play-calling duties. And McMackin took him up on it, leaving Lee to focus on the receivers. Several people close to what happened say a difference of opinion during the heat of battle led to Lee's suggestion. And that's why the quarterbacks coach, not the offensive coordinator, called the plays last fall. It led to Rolovich being named offensive coordinator this offseason. Lee says he'll take the fall off, focusing on his job as general manager of what most of us locals and thousands of tourists know as the Outrigger Showroom, home of the Society of Seven. He's worked in Waikiki for as long as he's coached, since the early '70s."
Asked if he will be hired by UH, Mouse Davis said:
"I would say that is a very strong possibility." (HSB)
"I think there's a strong possibility, there's some real positives. As you know, Hawaii is one of those places you like to get to." (HSB)
"And, yes, there is the experience level question." (HSB)
HSB Note: "I ask his age. Davis says 183. It's really just 77, which makes him 11 years older than Lee. What to make of that, I'm not quite sure."
HSB Note: "I have to believe the position is his for the taking, especially since it would be difficult to find other good candidates this close to the start of the season."
http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/20100525_Ron_Lee_Time_was_right_to_retire.html
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