[UH FOOTBALL]
Kurt Gouveia had to wait 20 years to become part of University of Hawaii football. Gouveia joins
UH as assistantThe Waianae alum and 2-time
Super Bowl winner knows defenseBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Star-Bulletin's offensive and defensive player of the year from Waianae High School in 1981 was not offered a scholarship by the Rainbows, so he went to Brigham Young instead. He went on to a 13-year NFL career, including two Super Bowl victories with the Washington Redskins.
This fall, Gouveia, 37, joins UH football as a student assistant.
Warrior coach June Jones said the details are still being worked out, but that the idea first came about last spring when Gouveia was here on vacation and visited several practices.
"He can't be on the field (for games), but he can help a lot in the office and at practice," Jones said. "He's still trying to decide what he wants to do. But he knows in order to coach he's going to have to get his degree."
Although Gouveia won't be a full-time coach, linebacker Chris Brown is looking forward to whatever input he can provide.
"From the times I got to talk to him in the spring, I can tell he's a defensive genius," Brown said. "He knows the defensive line and the defensive backs, not just what the linebackers do. He knows everything that's going on on the field. We're lucky to have him."
Gouveia is the only football player from Hawaii to be on teams that won the Oahu Prep Bowl, the NCAA championship and the Super Bowl.
"With all his experiences he should be able to make a good contribution," said Larry Ginoza, who was Gouveia's coach at Waianae.
Gouveia was unavailable for comment yesterday.
UH's coaching lineup appears to be set for the coming season. The full-time staff has been complete since Tyson Helton was promoted from graduate assistant last year.
Former St. Louis School coach and current athletics director Cal Lee said speculation that he would join the UH staff in some form this season is probably incorrect.
"As far as I know, there's still no opening there at this time," Lee said this week.
Jones has previously expressed interest in hiring Lee, but declined to comment until there is an opening.
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