Hours after being named the Hawaii football team’s defensive coordinator on Tuesday, Kevin Clune offered this New Year’s resolution:

"We’re going to work hard to win some ballgames," said Clune, who spent the past five years as Utah State’s linebackers coach.

Clune, 41, accepted an offer to succeed Thom Kaumeyer, who was the Rainbow Warriors’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons. Last month, Kaumeyer was told his one-year contract would not be renewed after it expires in March.

Clune will sign a two-year contract worth about $160,000 annually. He will be the first UH assistant coach with a multi-year contract.

Kaumeyer earned $250,000 a year.

Clune was among 39 applicants.

UH coach Norm Chow interviewed "several" candidates.

Chow said Clune is a good "fit" who is experienced in defending the "multiplicity" of Mountain West Conference offenses.

"He knows what to do," Chow said.

The Aggies were ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (17.1 points per game) and 12th in total defense (330.9 yards per game) this past season. In contrast, the Warriors were 113th in average points allowed (38.8 per game) and yards permitted (494.7 per game) in 2013.

"What I want to bring is a tough-minded mentality, just fighting through every possible situation, just trying to make the kids the best they can be," Clune said.

The outline of Clune’s defense is rooted in the 3-4 schemes Kyle Whittingham implemented at Utah.

Gary Andersen used Whittingham’s schemes after moving from defensive coordinator at Utah to head coach at Utah State.

Clune said those schemes "evolved" under Dave Aranda, a former UH coach who was Utah State’s defensive coordinator in 2012, and then last season when Todd Orlando ran the Aggies’ defense.

"It will evolve in Hawaii," Clune said. "We’ll change the scheme a little bit to play to the players’ strengths."

Still, Clune promised the Warriors will run an "attacking multiple defense."

"Watch what we did this year in putting guys in position to be good players," Clune said. "It’ll evolve to fit the players we have in Hawaii now. We’ll try to get the most out of them, and put them in the best positions."

Clune will report to UH next week.

"I’m fired up for the opportunity to work with Coach Chow," Clune said. "I’m fired up for the opportunity to be the coordinator. I’m happy to be in that situation."

Clune was raised in California, but spent the past dozen years coaching in the Rocky Mountains.

"It’s, like, 15 degrees right now (in Utah)," Clune said, laughing. "(Going to Hawaii will) be a new, exciting adventure."