The years have not diminished Kevin Lempa’s enthusiasm.
“I’m fired up,” said Lempa, 63, who was named the University of Hawaii football team’s defensive coordinator on Thursday. “I really am.”
This is Lempa’s second stint with the Warriors, having served as defensive coordinator in 2000-2002. During those three seasons, Lempa coached future NFL players Pisa Tinoisamoa, Travis LaBoy, Isa‘ako Sopoaga and Wayne Hunter.
“I absolutely love Coach Lempa,” said Matt Wright, a former UH linebacker and Saint Louis School head coach. “He’s a defensive genius. I like how he interacts with his players. When he was coaching us, he was one of us. He has a way of communicating to his players exactly what he wants to get out of them. He acts like he’s 20-something years old. He’s got a young mind, and he’s fun to be around.”
Lempa, who was Boston College’s defensive backs coach this season, said: “Being around young people kept me young. … I’ve been very fortunate. Not many people say they’re doing a job they love to do every day, and that’s what I do. I love to coach.”
Nick Rolovich, who was named UH head coach last month, also announced:
>> Norfolk State assistant coach Kefense Hynson will coach the Warriors’ receivers.
>> Sean Duggan, a graduate assistant at Boston College this past season, will coach the UH linebackers.
>> Jason Cvercko, who was Nevada’s coordinator of recruiting operations, will be the Warriors’ recruiting coordinator, a newly created non-coaching position.
Rolovich sifted through more than 300 applications before completing his coaching staff.
As a UH quarterback in 2000 and 2001, Rolovich faced Lempa’s defense every practice.
Lempa enjoyed success in his third stint at Boston College. This year, the Eagles led the nation in total defense (254.3 yards per game), and were seventh in passing yards (171.5 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (15.3 points).
“It took three years, but we put together some good packages, and we got the players to believe in it,” Lempa said. “And they all bought in and played hard. We played hard every game. You can have different schemes, but when the players listen to what you’re saying and believe what you’re saying, they go out there and give everything they have. That’s great satisfaction as a coach. And you can get results from that. And we got results.”
Lempa said he welcomed the opportunity be a coordinator again.
“What a better place to go to than to Hawaii?” said Lempa, whose daughter is a UH graduate. She was a social worker in Hawaii for several years.
The Eagles opened in a four-man front, then transitioned into a three-man alignment in passing situations. Lempa said he is leaning toward the same approach at UH, although he will evaluate personnel before finalizing a format. The Warriors ran a 3-4 base the past two seasons, although they often were in a four-man front in the final two games of the 2015 season. The Warriors probably are a better fit for a 4-3 with Kennedy Tulimasealii playing the 3-technique, nose tackle Kory Rasmussen in the shade alignment, and tall outside linebackers at defensive end.
“You try to fit players in spots where you feel they belong, and you work with them, and they grow and develop,” Lempa said.
Lempa said Duggan, a standout linebacker for the Eagles, is an example of a player who developed.
“Sean is going to be a great addition,” Lempa said. “He’s young, but this guy is really sharp. He was a three-year (starter), and a captain. He’s been in the system we’ve been running the last three years. He’ll do a great job.”
Lempa will move to Hawaii on Wednesday.
