Rich Miano enters his fourth season as head coach Greg McMackin’s associate head coach and 13th season on the Warrior coaching staff.
A former National Football League veteran, Miano has tutored numerous players who’ve gone on to play professional football. The former Kaiser High School and UH safety, who walked-on in 1982, also monitors a walk-on program which is considered one of the best in the country.
UH’s walk-on program has produced many standout players for the Warriors over the years, namely 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist and record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan. Former walk-ons recently on NFL rosters include defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis (Miami), long snapper Jake Ingram (New England), linebacker Travis LaBoy (San Francisco), fullback Reagan Maui‘a (Arizona), and punter Mat McBriar (Dallas).
Prominent walk-ons on last year’s squad include quarterback Bryant Moniz, center Bronson Tiwanak, defensive linemen Liko Satele and Kamalu Umu, linebacker Corey Paredes, and safeties Richard Torres and Mana Silva.
In addition, Miano is the team’s liaison to the NFL. An 11-year veteran of the league, Miano maintains contacts with scouts from each of the 32 teams. He also coordinates the team’s Pro Day, which has been held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for the past several years.
Under Miano, Silva finished his career as the school’s all-time interceptions record with 14. Silva earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honor. Former walk-ons Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau established themselves as impact defensive players and both earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors. Jackson and former Warrior defensive backs Abraham Elimimian, Robert Grant, Kelvin Millhouse, Kenny Patton Leonard Peters and Jameel Dowling have earned free-agent contracts with NFL teams following their UH playing careers.
In 2009, cornerback Ryan Mouton was the first Warrior defensive back selected in the NFL Draft in more than 20 years after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round.
In addition, Miano has coached 11 all-WAC selections at UH, including three-time honoree safety Hyrum Peters. Millhouse, Jackson and Elimimian were two-time all-WAC picks.
In the last 12 seasons, the secondary has recorded 146 interceptions including 14 of 23 picks in 2010. They have recorded 19 defensive touchdowns, compiled 374 pass break-ups and forced 61 fumbles. In 1999, Warrior cornerback Quincy LeJay recorded seven interceptions and broke the school record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns with three, which was tied in 2002 by Hyrum Peters.
Miano’s coaching career blossomed after a successful three-year career with the Rainbow Warriors. The Kaiser High School graduate was drafted in the sixth round by the New York Jets in 1985 and he later enjoyed an 11-year career in the NFL with the Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.
Between each NFL offseason, Miano returned to Honolulu and held camps and clinics for aspiring young football players and trained with some to help improve their skill level. Currently, he runs the Hawai‘i Speed and Quickness clinics for Hawai‘i youths throughout the year.
Miano enjoys playing golf and exercising. He and his wife, Lori, live in Hawai‘i Kai with their son, Richard James Kalanikupa‘a, and daughter, Siena.
