Comments on: Clune to lead UH defense

By: Shoko

Shoko — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:45:29 +0000

I don’t think Clune needs to transform the defense into a top 20 in his first year. All he needs is to improve just enough where it results into wins. Sometimes it has less to do with coaching experience and scheme, and more to do with a different coaching (teaching) philosophy that players are better able to grasp. Hopefully, Clune brings that quality to the program.

By: kimo browner

kimo browner — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:02:45 +0000

as they say, let’s take it one recruit at a time. Interestingly, Clune was in charge of Aggie recruiting for the Houston area. Don’t know if that will play out at Hawaii, but we need speed on the perimeters. next will be his coaching abilities. Chow is under pressure and whether any of his staff can advance our D in one year is a tough challenge…too little too late?

By: boolakanaka

boolakanaka — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 16:58:22 +0000

182-3 Prong– Thanks for the great clip. This is also coincides with the abysmal graduation rates at UH, in regards to football and basketball athletes. In fact, we are currently on the bottom ten of ALL D1 programs for this most dubious distinction, see the following:

op 15 GSR Scores (Football Bowl Subdivision programs)
Score – School

97 – Northwestern
97 – Notre Dame
94 – Boston College
94 – Miami
93 – Rice
92 – Duke
91 – Penn State
91 – Rutgers
90 – Stanford
88 – Army
87 – Navy
86 – Air Force
86 – Wake Foresr
85 – Vanderbilt
84 – Miami (Ohio)
83 – Northern Illinois
82 – Iowa
81 – Boise State
81 – Central Florida
80 – Utah State

Bottom 10 GSR Scores (Football Bowl Subdivision)
(Score – School, in Ascending GSR order)

47 – Central Michigan
47 – Oklahoma
48 – San Jose State
48 – California
52 – Eastern Michigan
53 – Arizona
53 – South Florida
53 – Washington State
54 – Louisiana Monroe
55 – Arkansas
55 – Florida State
55 – Georgia Tech
55 – Houston
55 – South Carolina
57 – Akron
57 – Alabama Birmingham
57 – Ball State
57 – Southern California
57 – Troy
58 – Hawaii
58 – Kansas State
58 – Tennessee
58 – Texas
58 – UTEP
59 – Mississippi
59 – Purdue
59 – Louisiana Lafayette

Now, couple that with the fact that HPU has one of the lowest graduation rates in the nation for private universities, (see; and well, it does not paint a picture of stout academics or scholarly pursuits and objectives. While there are certainly exceptions to these numbers, it an area that we need to assign long-term planning and resources to correct, as it is utterly unacceptable and embarrassing –period.

By: Steve P

Steve P — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 15:54:54 +0000

clune is probably a good hire, maybe even a good fit. What is needed right now is someone who is really committed to making the defense a tough flexible foe against any offense. Clune has a track record, seems to want to be in Hawaii..and do doubt respects the culture. After the last two years he certainly has the chance to make improvements.

By: Fei Jai

Fei Jai — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 14:40:46 +0000

Chow got new chess piece, but person playing chess match is still the same bad luck guy — chow. Changing the chess piece will not change the outcome. Chess pieces from Utah not make chow better chess master if chow weak chess player.

By: Manoa#1

Manoa#1 — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 10:45:30 +0000

Clune is going to be good the Aggies Linebackers were Killa’s he will do the same for the warriors Linebackers Also.

By: kifi

kifi — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 10:17:26 +0000

Unfortunately, Utah St. just signed LB Ian Togiai and DE Siua Taufa who would have fit in real well at the University of Hawaii. Hopefully Clune can bring guys like them in to Honolulu.

By: jeezy33

jeezy33 — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:48:29 +0000

211. From what I been hearing/reading, he was valued very highly at Utah St. and the only way to get him would be as DC.

Just putting things in perspective, Gary Anderson was a DL coach at Utah. They promoted him from DL coach to DC. Then worked his way up to HC at Utah St.

Clune has a track record of coaching some big time LBs at Utah St in Bobby Wagner, Kyler Fackrell, and both Vigil brothers. All of them has no big offers coming out of high school. His next gig was going to be a DC somewhere….

Trust me on this one…. It’s better to get a young, hungry coach that is ready to take a big step in his career versus a coach who has had success in the past, but is at the end of his career where he is close to retiring. The great DCs aren’t going to take a pay cut to come to Hawaii for possibly 1-2 years depending on how the team does…

Given the circumstances our program is in, I think this is a solid hire…. I think we will see an upgrade in LB recruits and the guys we get are going to be faster and be able to run sideline to sideline. I expect Clune to recruit more high school safeties/athletes and convert them into LBs….

By: kev-1

kev-1 — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:35:02 +0000

210 . . . that is true. I guess what I am thinking is that he would be a great LB coach since he is proven there. As a DC, it will be a wait and see.

I guess I just need to accept how far UH football has fallen. It is now a stepping stone team where new coaches come to prove themselves and move on. I hope Clune will be one of those success stories.

By: jeezy33

jeezy33 — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:29:54 +0000

208. All good coaches start from the bottom and work their way up. Not saying he is good or bad but the LB unit was the best in the MWC.

Most DCs with a high background won’t take the pay cut to come to HAwaii or are washed up has been coaches…