The University of Hawaii football team’s offense is set to take flight.
Zak Hill’s hiring as offensive coordinator is expected to resurrect a passing attack that was inconsistent the past four seasons.
Eastern Washington, where Hill served as quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator since 2009, has been “very explosive and consistently one of the best in the FCS,” according to UH coach Nick Rolovich.
Hill is the fifth assistant to join Rolovich’s coaching staff. Brian Smith, a former UH center and assistant coach, was added Tuesday. Offensive line coach Chris Naeole, defensive backs coach Abraham Elimimian and special teams coordinator Jake Cookus were retained from Norm Chow’s staff.
Rolovich and Hill have known each other from coaching clinics the past two years. “He’s been very successful in developing quarterbacks,” said Rolovich, a former UH quarterback and coach who was Nevada’s offensive coordinator for four seasons. “I think that’s an important component here.”
This past season, the Eagles led the FSC in passing (353.3 yards per game). Quarterback Jordan West threw 30 scoring passes against eight interceptions. In contrast, the 2015 Warriors averaged 192.4 passing yards per game with 12 scoring passes against 21 interceptions.
At EWU, Hill said, “we throw it around a lot and have a good, solid running game and consistently try to mix up tempos and keep defenses off balance. We try to play fast and throw the ball around a little bit.”
Hill, who arrives in Honolulu on Saturday, and Rolovich plan to design the offense matching the personnel’s skill sets. Hill said he expects an offense blending EWU’s wide-open passing schemes and Rolovich’s read-option at Nevada and run-and-shoot concepts at UH.
“He does have an aggressive attack,” Rolovich said of Hill. “He also does use multiplicity in formations. I think we have good-looking tight ends who are smart. … I think they can be a weapon for us. And he’s utilized tight ends before, which, I think, in today’s college football, a tight end can be a problem for defenses. He’s open to that.”
The goal, Rolovich said, is to build an offense immune to coaching changes.
“If anybody leaves for any reason, this system won’t go away,” Rolovich said. “I don’t want these players to learn a new system every year.”
Rolovich said Hill will have play-calling autonomy.
“I appreciate him in entrusting me with the offense,” Hill said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of give-and-take through the process.”
Hill is familiar with the islands because of annual family trips to Honolulu and Maui.
“I have always loved Hawaii,” Hill said. “I love the culture and and tradition and feeling of family over here. Hawaii’s always been a big part of my life, even though I haven’t lived there, per se. … I think it’s a great job. I think having Coach Rolovich over there makes it that much easier.”
Hill, 36, and wife Hollie are expecting their second child in May.
