Oregon Native Named Head Football Coach at Hawaii

McMackin replaces June Jones who left the school to become head coach at SMU.

Photo courtesy: University of Hawai'i athletics

HONOLULU - Greg McMackin has been named the head coach of the University of Hawai'i football program, UH Manoa chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw announced during a Wednesday morning press conference.

McMackin becomes the program's 21st head coach and replaces June Jones, who guided the Warriors for nine years before announcing his resignation last week.

"I am honored and very humbled to accept the head coaching position at the University of Hawai'i," McMackin said. "June Jones can never be replaced. He has done so many great things for the program, the university and the state of Hawai'i and his legacy will never be forgotten. My destiny is to keep the program headed in that same direction and to maintain the continuity with our current players and recruiting base."

McMackin served two stints as the Warriors' defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2007, the latter of which UH improved from 93rd nationally in total defense to 33rd.

The Warriors captured the WAC Championship both years, including this past year's perfect 12-0 regular season and trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl, McMackin's 12th bowl appearance.

Under his tutelage, the UH defense ranked fifth nationally in tackles-for-loss, ninth in sacks, and 11th in interceptions while recording five defensive touchdowns.

In McMackin's first stint, the Warriors finished 9-4, won the Jeep O'ahu Bowl and became the NCAA's all-time turnaround team after a winless 0-12 season the year prior.

His defense, which improved from 109th to 35th nationally, accounted for five touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 33 sacks and 17 fumble recoveries.

"Greg meets our top priorities as a coach - he is a demonstrated leader who has significant coaching experience, the ability to produce successful student-athletes, a full appreciation of the special connection between UH athletics and the people of Hawai'i and the capacity to lead a smooth transition for current team members and coaches," Hinshaw said.

"I have so many people to thank including President (David) McClain, Chancellor Hinshaw, Na Koa and all the people who supported me, from the fans to the boosters," McMackin said. "But the main people I'd like to thank are the players, who this program is all about. They're the ones who went 12-0 and got us to the Sugar Bowl."

Prior to joining the Warrior staff during his second go-around, McMackin spent three years with the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers as associate head coach and linebackers coach under Dennis Erickson from 2003-05.

In 2000, McMackin left UH to take the defensive coordinator position at Texas Tech, where he spent three years as one of the nation's top coaches by American Football Magazine.

In 2001 he was named the Big 12 Conference's top recruiter by rivals.com. His defense made an immediate impact as the Red Raiders finished the 2000 campaign ranked sixth nationally in pass defense and 10th in pass efficiency defense.

Prior to joining UH in 1999, McMackin was the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks for four seasons under Erickson, where he coached 10 All-Pro selections.

The Seahawks recorded an NFL-record 14 defensive touchdowns in 1998 while establishing a franchise-best seven interceptions in one game. During his first three seasons in Seattle, the defense jumped from 30th to eighth while the pass defense improved from 30th to sixth.

McMackin spent the 1993 and 1994 seasons at Miami (Fla.), also coached by Erickson. The team won two Big East Championships and ranked first in the nation in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense.

Prior to Miami, he spent one year with Navy in 1992 and two years with Utah from 1990-91. He helped improve the Ute defense from 106th nationally to first in the Western Athletic Conference in 1990, while his defense led the WAC in five categories.

McMackin's first head coaching stint was at Oregon Tech from 1986-90, where he also served as assistant athletics director.

The team enjoyed four winning seasons and established 48 school and 18 national records. Oregon Tech advanced to the national championship playoffs and semifinals and was ranked third nationally during his tenure. McMackin earned Coach of the Year honors twice and coached the first two Oregon Tech football players drafted by the NFL.

His first taste of professional football came during the 1985 season when he served as assistant coach for the Denver Gold of the USFL, coached by former UH assistant Mouse Davis, widely regarded as the inventor of the Run-and-Shoot offense. Denver ranked first in the Western Conference in defense and led the USFL in interceptions.

McMackin served as linebackers coach for one season at Stanford under head coach Jack Elway, where the rushing defense ranked among the nation's best in 1984.

In 1979, he began a five-season stint at San Jose State, helping the team to two conference titles while coaching three NFL Draft picks and eight players who played professionally.

McMackin also served as defensive coordinator at Idaho for three seasons. While at UI, his team ranked second in the nation in quarterback sacks and improved its pass defense from last to first in the Big Sky Conference.

McMackin began his coaching career as an offensive backfield coach at Arizona in 1968 and moved on to Aloha High School in Beaverton, Ore., where he was as an assistant coach and head coach for three seasons.

He then moved on to Western Oregon State College for three seasons as defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and assistant professor in physical education.

McMackin earned his bachelor of science degree at Southern Oregon College and his masters of education at Arizona.

He is a published author having written "Coaching the Defensive Backfield" in 1992, which is in its eighth printing, and has had several articles published in national coaching publications. He is a member of the National Football League Coaches Association and the American Football Coaches Association.

McMackin and his wife, Heather, have a daughter, Shannon, and two grandchildren, Kayla and Taylor.

McMackin's File:

Age: 58

Date of Birth: April 24, 1949

Hometown: Springfield, OR

Alma Mater: Southern Oregon (1969)

Playing Experience:

Southern Oregon (DB), 1965-69

Coaching Experience:

2007 Hawai'i Defensive Coordinator

2003-05 San Francisco 49ers Associate Head Coach, Linebacker Coach

2000-02 Texas Tech Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator

1999 Hawai`i Defensive Coordinator

1995-98 Seattle Seahawks Defensive Coordinator

1993-94 Miami (Fla.) Defensive Coordinator

1992-93 Navy Defensive Coordinator

1990-92 Utah Defensive Coordinator

1986-90 Oregon Tech Head Coach, Assistant Athletics Director

1985-86 Denver Gold (USFL) Secondary Coach

1984-85 Stanford Linebackers Coach

1978-84 San Jose State Recruiting Coordinator/Secondary

1976-78 Idaho Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator/Secondary/Linebacker

1973-76 Western Oregon State Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator

1969-73 Aloha High School Head Coach/Assistant Coach

1968-69 Arizona Graduate Assistant

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