HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i head football coach Norm Chow has selected Thom Kaumeyer as the team's defensive coordinator, the eighth assistant coach to join Chow's inaugural staff.
 
“We're very fortunate to add Thom to the staff,” Chow said. “He is a tremendous defensive mind and will be a great tutor to our younger defensive coaches. He's a proven winner and his NFL experience will be a great asset.”
 
For the past four seasons, Kaumeyer was on the staff of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was the assistant defensive backs coach. The former NFL safety, who played with Seattle (1989-90) and New York Giants (1991-92), has more than 20 years of coaching experience.
 
His previous stops include defensive backs coach at Kentucky in 2008, defensive coordinator at Tulane in 2007, and defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at San Diego State from 2002-06. Kaumeyer also spent two seasons on the Atlanta Falcons staff (2000-01), serving as the defensive quality control coach.
 
The native of San Diego, Calif., had two stints at Palomar College where he began his coaching career as an assistant coach in 1991 before being promoted to head coach in 1994. He returned in 1997 and spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and special teams coach. From 1995-96 he served as head coach and oversaw football operations for Onward Kashiyama, Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan. The club advanced to the Tokyo Super Bowl in 1996.
 
As a player, Kaumeyer played safety at Palomar (1985-86) before transferring to Oregon where he played under former NFL head coach Rich Brooks for two seasons (1987-88).
 
Kaumeyer joins offensive assistants Tommy Lee, Philip Rauscher, Keith Uperesa, and Chris Wiesehan and defensive assistants Daronte' Jones, Lewis Powell, and Tony Tuioti. There is one vacancy remaining and Chow hopes to fill the spot within the next week.