Friday, December 11, 1998
Lumpkin returns
as assistant
He becomes the first member
By Paul Arnett
of Jones' new staff
Star-BulletinNew Hawaii assistant head coach George Lumpkin was teaching a physical education class at Kamehameha Schools early yesterday afternoon when he learned that his name had come up during June Jones' press conference in San Diego.
Seems Jones believed Lumpkin was his most important hire and already had made the call to his old friend to see if he might be interested in the Rainbows' assistant coaching position.
"I got the call from him, but I missed it, so I don't know exactly what it's about," Lumpkin said. When a reporter relayed the news about a possible hire and would he take it if asked, Lumpkin didn't miss a beat.
"Oh yeah."
That's good news for Jones, who wasted no time hiring his first coach to take advantage of what little recruiting time is left in December. While Jones finishes out the season as the Chargers' head coach, Lumpkin will be holding down the football fort in Honolulu. Before being fired in 1995, Lumpkin was a part of the Hawaii program as a player and coach for a quarter-century.
"I'm certainly going to be relying on him quite a bit to get things started, in particular with a couple of the high school kids there who I'm already aware of," said Jones, who conceded that Lumpkin would be like an interim coach for Hawaii.
"Hopefully, we can get them excited enough to at least allow us to spend some time there to get them to come. I have talked to some people (about being his offensive and defensive coordinators), and hopefully by Monday when I get there I can confirm a couple of those guys."
It's unlikely either of those will come from the Lee family. Tommy Lee will remain in Utah with Ron McBride, while Ron and Cal Lee will return for another year at St. Louis School.
Jones hasn't talked with any of the Lees, but said he would like to get their input.
"I know Cal and Ron and Tommy very well," Jones said. "All three intrigue me and I would like to talk with them. I haven't seen them for quite some time or talked to them recently, but as soon as I get the opportunity face-to-face and see how that shakes out, I'm going to do that."
Jones also said it was unlikely that anyone would be retained from former head coach Fred vonAppen's staff. Often a coach or two are kept on to help with the transition. But that's where Lumpkin comes in.
"To be honest with you, I've only been to one game since we were fired," Lumpkin said. "And that was the Arizona game. I went to that one to see some old friends. But I'll say this, I saw nothing that would indicate Hawaii wouldn't win a game.
"I think the injuries hurt them. Their numbers were way down and that's something we've got to work on the next few years. This is going to take some time. The program is worse off than when I left in 1995. Our fans have got to understand that."
Lumpkin will handle the local recruiting early on, but don't be surprised if he's back in his old stomping grounds in Los Angeles by January. Over the years, many of Hawaii's top recruits from Southern California were Lumpkin's.
"I've really missed being around the college kids and teaching them about life," Lumpkin said. "The last three years were OK, but I was meant for the college game. I can't wait to get back in there."
The San Diego media asked Jones if anyone off the current Chargers staff would come under consideration.
"I don't plan on hiring anyone off that staff because that wouldn't be right," Jones said.
"But if somebody comes loose when a new coach comes in, then we'll have to see how that shakes out."
Local radio broadcaster Rich Miano might also come under consideration to coach the secondary. He not only played for the Rainbows in 1983 when Jones was a quarterbacks coach, he also was on Atlanta's roster during Jones' head coaching days (1994-96) for the Falcons. He declined comment.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
