HONOLULU — Athletics Director David Matlin formally introduced
Todd Graham as the University of Hawai'i's new head football coach during a press conference Wednesday at the Athletics Department Lecture Hall. A packed crowd, which included the UH band and cheerleaders, welcomed the 12-year head coaching veteran to Mānoa as the 24th head coach of the UH football program.
"When we lost our football coach a week ago," Matlin said, "my first concern was for our players. Todd is here for our guys. He has an incredible knack for teaching and developing players to be the very best that they can be. He shares our values of 'ohana. He respects the diversity across all cultures that make up this island, this program, and this team. He is a teacher and a professor of football. This football team is not broken. Under Todd, this football team is just getting started."
Graham is the first UH football hire to boast collegiate head coaching experience since Dave Holmes (Eastern Washington) in 1968. He brings with him a reputation as a proven winner, an educator, and a developer of a student-athletes, on and off the field.
"I want these young men who come through our program to be championship husbands of integrity, to be championship fathers, and to know what it is to win a championship life," Graham said.
On the field, Graham promises and aggressive style on both sides of the ball.
"We're gonna attack," he said. "We're gonna play the game with great speed and great physicality. We will be the hardest working, most disciplined, most physical, and best prepared team in the country. That's our focus every day. We're going to win every day with how we do things."
The Mesquite, Texas native has one strong bond with UH, calling former Rainbow head coach Dick Tomey as one of his mentors.
"I hope I can impact the community in at least a little bit of the way that he did," Graham said. "He had a big influence on me and I know he's smiling down on me today."
In the days ahead, Graham will form his coaching staff and hit the recruiting trail in preparation for National Signing Day on February 5.
"To the people of Hawai'i, I'm so honored to be here," Graham said. "I'm so honored to be your coach. I can't wait."
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