Saturday, December 12, 1998

Miano ready
to join Jones
at Hawaii

The former Rainbow and
NFL player is expected to be
added to the Hawaii coaching
staff next week

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

June Jones' fax machine worked overtime the past two days from all the coaching resumes coming in from across the country.

San Diego Chargers officials said yesterday that the requests from more than 100 coaches were an inch thick.

That's why former Hawaii standout Rich Miano, who ended his National Football League career with Jones in Atlanta, is feeling pretty fortunate. He could be officially welcomed to the staff as early as Monday.

"I can't really say anything until I talk with June about it because I don't know what I will be doing," Miano said yesterday. "I could be working with the guys in the secondary or special teams. I'll do whatever he wants."

Jones said yesterday that he hadn't talked with Miano yet, but planned to soon.

"I have a lot of guys I'm looking at," Jones said. "Part of me is preparing for the Seattle Seahawks and another part is trying to get moving in Hawaii. It's going to be an interesting few weeks."

Miano joins Hawaii assistant George Lumpkin as the first coaches to be named to Jones' staff. The current KCCN (1420-AM) broadcaster is looking forward to being an assistant coach.

"It's something I've thought about since I got out of the league," said Miano, who has no coaching experience.

Miano and Jones were on the same 1983 Hawaii team. Jones was a quarterbacks coach for the Rainbows, while Miano played safety.

Jones said he hoped to have his coordinators in place soon. He may consider two members of Seattle's staff should head coach Dennis Erickson be let go at season's end.

They are tight ends coach Keith Gilbertson and wide receivers coach Milt Jackson. Gilbertson played for the Rainbows in 1970. The former California head coach was with Jones in the United States Football League in 1985.

Jackson was with Jones during his three years as head coach for the Atlanta Falcons. Jackson coached three Atlanta wide receivers who finished with more than 1,000 yards in Jones' version of the run-and-shoot.

Although several sources say it's unlikely any of the Lee brothers will join the staff, Jones would still like to meet with Cal and Ron to kick around old times.

Cal Lee said yesterday that he supports Jones and hopes the community gets behind him and whoever is on the staff. He wants to see Jones when he comes to town, but stopped short of saying he was seeking a position.

"I want to talk with Cal and Ron as soon as we can all get together," Jones said. "They have been friends of mine for years. I want to see what they would like to do and see how it shakes out after our conversation."

It's unlikely Cal Lee will be offered a coordinator position, and even if he were, close friends say it would be tough for him to leave his successful job at St. Louis.

In the meantime, Miano is studying the NCAA manual, so he can pass a test that will allow him to recruit for UH. Jones can't do any recruiting until he officially comes on board on Dec. 28.

"I have to take care of some paperwork myself before I can make official visits," Jones said. "I'm real excited about putting a staff together and getting to work."

Other local names being bandied about are former San Francisco 49ers center Jesse Sapolu, Farrington High head coach Skippa Diaz and former New England Patriots running back Mosi Tatupu.

"This has a chance to be a fun staff with a lot of local and mainland knowledge," Miano said. "Everybody wants a chance to coach with June because he's a guy who can make a difference."

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