University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Nick Rolovich became the 23rd head coach for the Rainbow Warrior program when he was hired in December 2015. 

His “Live Aloha, Play Warrior” and “Pride Rock” slogans, which echoed throughout his introductory press conference, were the foundation of his inaugural season of 2016 that saw the Rainbow Warriors reach a bowl game for the first time in six years. In addition, his witty theatrics helped promote the program off the field through numerous ESPN SportsCenter Top Plays and viral videos across social media. He also re-energized a fan base, including the alumni with the help of three of his former UH teammates on the coaching staff.

The 2018 season saw a true resurgence of the formely famed Run-and-Shoot offense. Under Rolovich’s guidance and Cole McDonald at quaterback, the UH offense racked up over 5,800 yards of offense, along with 43 touchdown passes. The aerial assualt accounted for 30.8 points per game and 419 yards per contest. The production led the Warriors returning to the Hawai‘i Bowl for a second time under Rolovich, finishing with an 8-6 record.

When he took over the program as the fifth-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I FBS at the age of 37 after a four-year stint as Nevada’s offensive coordinator, Rolovich promised a refined offense and he came through in the form of a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver for just the second time in program history. 

During his time in Reno, the Wolf Pack made three bowls: the 2012 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, the 2014 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.

Rolovich’s first coaching stint at UH was wildly productive from 2008-11, directing one of the top passing offenses in the nation. He was the quarterbacks coach all four seasons and spent the final two years as the Warriors’ offensive coordinator.

For the latter three years of his time with the Warriors, he had play-calling duties, while UH threw for 13,915 yards—an average of 347.9 yards per game—and 96 touchdowns. That includes the 2010 season in which Hawai’i led the nation in passing offense (394.3 ypg) and finished sixth in total offense (500.6 ypg).  

Rolovich was a two-year letterwinner at quarterback for Hawai’i from 2000-01, starting the bulk of the 2001 season and leading the team to an 8-1 record as a starter. He passed for 4,176 career yards and 40 touchdowns and still holds six school passing records. The highlight of his career was perhaps one of the best performances in college football history. Rolovich led the Warriors to an upset over previously unbeaten and No. 9 BYU in the 2001 season finale, 72-45, with 543 yards and eight touchdowns. As a senior that season, he ranked 10th nationally in passing efficiency with a 150.5 rating and broke 19 school passing and eight total offense records. He ended his college career with three consecutive 500-yard passing games, engineering at least 52 points each outing.

Following his collegiate playing career, Rolovich participated in the Dallas Cowboys mini-camp before signing with the Denver Broncos. He was released after the team’s final preseason game in 2002. The next year, he was allocated to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, where he threw for 907 yards and led the Fire to World Bowl XI. 

Rolovich got his coaching start in 2002 as an assistant coach for San Marin (Calif.) High School, later reuniting with his college coach, June Jones, in coaching the Run and Shoot offense as a student assistant at Hawai’i during the 2003-04 seasons.

Prior to his first stint coaching at UH, he returned to Denver in 2003 and was cut following training camp. From there he began a five-year career in the Arena Football League, beginning with the San Jose SaberCats. Serving as veteran Mark Grieb’s backup, Rolovich was a member of the Arena Bowl Championship team. He then spent time with the Chicago Rush, Arizona Rattlers and Las Vegas Gladiators. While with the Gladiators, he threw for 1,248 yards and 23 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 104.8 in 2007 before retiring and accepting a full-time role at his alma mater on Greg McMackin’s coaching staff.

The Novato, Calif., native earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from UH in 2004 and a master’s in human performance and sport from New Mexico Highlands (2007).

Rolovich and his wife, Analea, have three sons, Daniel, William and Patrick, and a daughter, Alana.