Entering his fifth season on the Rainbow Warriors coaching staff is NFL veteran and Kahuku High School graduate Chris Naeole, who returns as offensive line coach in 2017.
Naeole spent three years on former coach Norm Chow’s staff, including a turbulent 2015 season in which he served as interim head coach for the final four games, finishing with a 1-3 record.
Last season, Naeole’s offensive line unit posted its fewest sacks allowed (24) since the 2004 season and ranked 41st nationally. Continuity was the key as three linemen – guards Dejon Allen and John Wa‘a, and tackle RJ Hollis – each started all 14 games while Leo Koloamatangi made 13 starts at both guard and center. Asotui Eli started 11 games but missed three due to injury.
Allen received second-team all-Mountain West honors and Koloamatangi signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions. The unit help produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the second consecutive season as Diocemy Saint Juste finished with 1,006 yards.
In 2015, during his third season with the program, Naeole was assistant head coach and offensive line coach and his teaching helped transform the unit into a hard-nosed and physical group, modeled after his style of play as an All-American and NFL guard.
Under his guidance the line produced its first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2010 season, as Paul Harris registered 1,132 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. In addition, the unit improved on total sacks allowed for the second consecutive year, recording the fewest in nine seasons. Senior tackle Ben Clarke earned all-MW honorable mention and was on the Lombardi Trophy watch list for the second straight year, collecting three of his four conference awards under Naeole’s tutelage, and starting 50 consecutive games.
Naeole, a 1992 Kahuku High School graduate, played collegiately at Colorado where he was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1996. He was a three-year starter for the Buffs and only allowed one sack over his career. Naeole was the recipient of the John Mack Award, given to the team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. He graduated from the university with a degree in sociology and a 3.0 grade point average.
Raised in Ka‘a‘awa, O‘ahu, Naeole became the state of Hawai‘i’s then-highest draft pick, having been selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 10th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. Naeole was also the highest-selected guard since 1988, and first Colorado offensive lineman selected in the first round since 1980.
He spent 12 years playing for both the Saints (1997-2001) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2002-08) before an injury ended his career in the middle of the season. He missed only one NFL game prior to the injury and started 150 of 154 career games.
Following his playing career, Naeole began coaching, spending his first three years as the defensive line coach at ‘Iolani School under head coach Wendell Look. He also has participated in NFL summer internships with the Jaguars and Green Bay Packers in recent years and made guest-coaching appearances at clinics and camps throughout Hawai‘i, New Orleans and Jacksonville.
Naeole earned numerous All-America honors as a senior at Kahuku. As a two-way star, he garnered first-team accolades by Prep Football Report, second-team from Blue Chip Report and honorable mention from USA Today. In addition to playing offensive guard, he was a defensive tackle for the Red Raiders and recorded 56 tackles, five sacks, eight passes deflected, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a senior.
From there, Naeole signed with Colorado where he was a two-time first-team all-Big 12 pick. He played on four bowl teams—including a 1993 Aloha Bowl victory over Fresno State—and was a starter on the Fiesta and Cotton Bowl-winning teams.
Naeole and his wife, Tara, have two children, Azure and Christian, and reside in Honolulu.
The Naeole File
Hometown: Ka‘a‘awa, O‘ahu
Alma Mater: Colorado (1997)
Playing Experience
2002-08: Jacksonville (NFL)
1997-2001: New Orleans (NFL)
1992-96: Colorado
Coaching Experience
2013-Present: Hawai‘i
*2016-: Assistant (Offensive Line)
*2015-: Assistant Head Coach (Offensive Line)/Interim Head Coach (Final Four Games, Record of 1-3)
*2013-14: Assistant (Offensive Line)
2010-12: ‘Iolani School: Assistant (Defensive Line)
