Former Rainbow Warriors center John Estes returns to his alma mater to join first-year-head coach Nick Rolovich’s inaugural staff as a graduate assistant for the 2016 season. He assists coaching the offensive line.
During his time in Manoa, Estes set an NCAA record for most consecutive games started at 54 from 2006-09 and was a three-time first-team all-Western Athletic Conference pick, becoming just the sixth player in program history to do so. As a senior, Estes was named to the watch lists of the Rimington, Outland and Lombardi awards and was rated among the Top 5 centers by several NFL Draft-ranking services. He was one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy; was selected to the Western Athletic Conference's all-decade team; and participated in the East-West Shrine Game.
As a sophomore in 2007, Estes helped the Warriors rank No. 1 nationally in scoring (43.4), second in passing (439.5), and third in total offense (512.1) as UH went undefeated during the regular season and earned a trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. During his junior year, he helped the Warriors reach their third consecutive bowl game – Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl – and in his senior season, Estes and the Warriors were coached by then-offensive play caller Rolovich who was part of former head coach Greg McMackin’s staff.
Estes signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent his rookie season on the injured list after suffering a knee injury in preseason. He served as a backup center in the 2011 season, however was placed back on the injured list in 2012. In 2015, he signed as a free agent to the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He played in five regular-season games as well as the Western Final game against provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos.
A native of Stockton, Calif., Estes earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UH in 2009.
