Wagner reunited
By Paul Arnett
with Tomey as an Arizona
assistant coach
Star-BulletinBob Wagner knew that some day he would come home again to Hawaii. He just wasn't sure where or when.
All that changed yesterday for the former University of Hawaii head football coach. He will be here the first Thursday in September as a linebackers coach for the University of Arizona.
The Rainbows open their season against the Wildcats in a nationally televised Thursday game on ESPN2. It will be Wagner's first trip to Aloha Stadium since his nine-year career as UH head coach came to an end in 1995 against Oklahoma State.
Wagner was fired with one week left in that season by UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida because of dwindling attendance, something that has continued its steady plunge over the last two years.
The Star-Bulletin first reported nine days ago that Wagner was the leading contender for this job. He will be joining a staff that has plenty of Hawaii ties. Wagner was Tomey's defensive coordinator before he left Hawaii in 1987 to be head coach in Arizona.
Wagner succeeded Tomey that year, then went out and hired Rich Ellerson as his defensive coordinator. Ellerson is entering his second season as defensive coordinator for the Wildcats.
Offensive assistant Duane Akina, the former Punahou prep star, also is on Tomey's staff. Akina was a finalist for Wagner's old job. Yoshida eventually hired Fred vonAppen in December of 1995.
''It's going to be interesting having all those coaches with ties to Hawaii back for this game,'' vonAppen said. ''But that's really just a sideshow for us. We're more interested in getting a win.''
Wagner was in the running to become Texas A&M's defensive coordinator last year. He also was mentioned as a candidate for defensive coordinator at Fresno State and head coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
This will be the second time Tomey has been back to Hawaii to play a football game. His Arizona team was blanked by Syracuse, 28-0, in the 1990 Aloha Bowl.
Because the game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, it's possible there will be two season-ticket packages offered to UH fans. One will include the Arizona game. One package won't. The decision could be reached as early as next month.