Don Weir named new Executive Director for Na Koa

UH = UH Foundation Press Release

UH Note: “The University of Hawai‘i Foundation in partnership with ‘Ahahui Koa Anuenue and the University of Hawai‘i Athletics Department, have created the new position of Executive Director for the school’s football booster club, Na Koa. Dr. Don Weir will assume the position beginning on Monday, March 2. Weir, a two-year letterwinner in football in the 1970s, is the current volunteer booster president for the UH Letterwinners Club. As executive director of Na Koa, Weir will coordinate the booster club’s fundraising campaign that supports the annual operational needs of the Warrior football program.”

Happy that Weir has agreed to take this position, Na Koa President Rick Blangiardi said:
“We are very pleased and excited that Don Weir has agreed to take on this critical responsibility for Na Koa and the University of Hawai‘i football program. We are confident that Don’s passion and commitment to Warrior football will create unprecedented success for our coaches and team.” (UH)

Praising Weir, UH coach Greg McMackin said:
“Don will do a great job as our new Na Koa Executive Director. He has an excellent work ethic, is a great person, cares about the University of Hawai‘i, the state of Hawai‘i and our program. He is the final piece of the puzzle to take Na Koa to a higher level.” (UH)

Sure that Weir will do a great job with Na Koa, JD said:
“Having seen firsthand Don’s work as president of UH Letterwinners Club, I am confident of his abilities and leadership. In addition, from a personal level, I am excited that Don, as a former UH football player, has made a commitment to come home and give back to his team and university.” (UH)

Feature Interview with UH Coach Greg McMackin

About how he and Ron Lee drew plays on napkins recently, Mac said:
“I’m sitting down to lunch with my offensive coordinator. We went through a bunch of cut-ups today. We see a lot of fun things we can do.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “As last season wore on, Lee took more and more heat for play calling. Some suggested McMackin was vetoing many of his calls, but there was never evidence of it, and the two remain loyal old friends.”

About how they need to improve, Mac said:
“Things happened. How do you say it? There were phases that broke down. We’re working to improve that. There are a lot of things we need to get better at.” (HSB)

Asked last year when he would get to take a breather, Mac said:
“I don’t have time. This is what I’ve been working toward my whole career.” (HSB)

About how it is important to keep learning and work through adversity, Mac said:
“I’ve coached for a lot of years, but I know you have to keep learning every year. I learned it’s important to really work for completion and perfection. Last year’s team, they were great the way they worked through adversity, and the way they had trust in each other. They were 1-3 at one time and because everyone believed in each other, the team went to a bowl game.” (HSB)

Combine Report for Ryan Mouton and David Veikune

About how his hamstring is not seriously injured and he’ll run the 40 at UH’s Pro Day on April 2, Mouton said:
“I’ll be OK.” (HA)

HA Note: “Mouton said he “popped” his left hamstring at about the 30-yard mark, and hobbled the rest of the way. Mouton was credited with an “unofficial” time of 4.48 seconds, said his agent Kenny Zuckerman.”

HA Note: “Mouton said he had suffered a tight hamstring during last month’s East-West Shrine Game in Houston. Mouton, who is listed at 5 feet 9 and 187 pounds, was impressive in field drills yesterday. He had a vertical jump of 39 1/2 inches, and a broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches.”

About how he bench-pressed 225 pounds 35 times, 4th highest at the combine, Veikune said that NFL officials had strict lifting guidelines:
“Anything that was a little off, they’d take off (the total).” (HA)

About how he set a goal of 35 reps, Veikune said:
“I reached it. Anything after that would have been great.” (HA)

HA Note: “In the 40-yard dash, Veikune’s announced official time was 4.87 seconds, ninth best among the linemen. But he said that was the slowest of the recordings by the three timers. One official clocked Veikune at 4.79 seconds. Veikune also completed the L-drill, which is not shown on the NFL Web site, in 4.20 seconds. Because of his success in field drills, Veikune will not compete in lifting or running drills at Pro Day. Instead, he will participate in position drills. He said he will spend the next few weeks working on his back-pedal moves.”

About how he interviewed with every NFL team at the combine, Veikune said:
“(USC quarterback) Mark Sanchez said it was like speed dating.” (HA)

HA Note: “Veikune said he also had one-on-one interviews with the head coaches of the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals.”

UH may have a scrimmage and autograph session on Maui in April

About how their football scrimmage and autograph session at Maui’s War Memorial Stadium in April is still in the proposal stage, JD said:
“We’re hopeful it’ll all come together.” (HA)

HA Note: “The event would be part of the Warriors’ spring practice. They still would play the Green-White game at Aloha Stadium.”

HA Note: “But Donovan said it was important for “Hawai’i's team” to connect with fans throughout the state. Maui has the second-most pay-per-view customers of UH sports.”

JD said that Teri Chang (assistant AD for facilities and operations) was raised in Maui and coordinated the UH-Montana game on Maui several years ago, and:
“is a natural fit to coordinate this.” (HA)