University of Hawai‘i secondary coach Rich Miano enters his 11th season on the Warrior coaching staff and second as head coach Greg McMackin’s associate head coach.
The former Kaiser High School and UH safety, who walked-on in 1982, has built his secondary out of over-achieving walk-ons and will continue to monitor that program.
In addition, Miano is the team’s liaison to the National Football League. An 11-year veteran of the league, Miano maintains contacts with scouts from each of the 32 teams. He also coordinates the team’s Pro Day, which has been held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for the past several years.
Former walk-ons Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau established themselves as impact defensive players and both earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors. Each year, the football program holds a walk-on tryout and a number of players have impressed the coaches enough to make the team.
Jackson and former Warrior defensive backs Abraham Elimimian, Robert Grant, Kelvin Millhouse, Kenny Patton Leonard Peters and Jameel Dowling have earned free-agent contracts with NFL teams following their UH playing careers. In April, cornerback Ryan Mouton was the first Warrior defensive back selected in the NFL Draft in more than 20 years after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round.
In addition, Miano has coached 10 all-WAC selections in 10 seasons at UH, including three-time honoree safety Hyrum Peters. Millhouse, Jackson and Elimimian were two-time all-WAC picks.
In the last 10 seasons, the secondary has recorded 112 interceptions including 14 of 15 picks in 2008. They have recorded 18 defensive touchdowns, compiled 310 pass break-ups and forced 52 fumbles. In 1999, Warrior cornerback Quincy LeJay recorded seven interceptions and broke the school record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns with three, which was tied in 2002 by Hyrum Peters.
Miano’s coaching career blossomed after a successful three-year career with the Rainbow Warriors. The Kaiser High School graduate was drafted in the sixth round by the New York Jets in 1985 and he later enjoyed an 11-year career in the NFL with the Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
Between each NFL offseason, Miano returned to Honolulu and held camps and clinics for aspiring young football players and trained with some to help improve their skill level. Currently, he and strength coach Mel deLaura run the Hawai‘i Speed and Quickness clinics for Hawai‘i youths throughout the year.
Miano enjoys playing golf and exercising. He and his wife, Lori, live in Hawai‘i Kai with their son, Richard James Kalanikupa‘a, and daughter, Siena.