ASSOCIATED PRESS Navy coach Paul Johnson uses the connections built up during eight years coaching at Hawaii to recruit isle football players.

Johnson taps Hawaii pipeline

PHILADELPHIA » The pipeline remains active and flourishing.

Thanks to a productive eight years as offensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii, Paul Johnson continues to tap resources thousands of miles from his current base of operation.

Now in his fourth season as head coach at Navy, Johnson remains active in the recruitment and development of players and staff from the islands. Despite relocating from Hawaii nearly a decade ago, Johnson continues to maintain contacts and receives calls from coaches and athletic officials on the worth and substance of potential players to his program.

Among those who remain active in Johnson's avenue of communication is Michael Carter, former assistant football coach at Kapolei High School. Carter developed as a quarterback under Johnson at Hawaii.

For his part, Johnson is not hesitant to pick up the phone, renew contact with Carter and other contacts, and ascertain prospects.

"I know the people there, so why not utilize all of the resources," Johnson said at a recent media gathering to promote Saturday's 106th meeting of Army and Navy.

"I was there for eight years and developed many strong relationships. There are several outstanding high school programs, and we're interested in many athletes there. So I keep in touch, and coaches also call with updates."

There's no question Johnson left a rather indelible mark.

In his eight years at Hawaii, the 48-year-old Johnson, a native of Newland, N.C., developed a successful unit that finished in the top 20 statistically in scoring, total offense, and rushing offense among Division I schools in six of his eight seasons.

With Johnson's offense operating on all cylinders, Hawaii proceeded to claim its first Western Athletic Conference crown and first modern bowl appearance. Johnson's offense during his tenure at Hawaii set or broke numerous school records.

Leaving Hawaii for Navy, Johnson joined the staff of Charlie Weatherbie, proceeded to help lift the Mids to a 9-3 mark in 1996 and a 42-38 win over California in the Aloha Bowl. Georgia Southern then offered its head coaching position, and Johnson proceeded to win two Division I-AA national titles with the Eagles.

Following that successful run, Johnson returned to Navy to head the program. With the Mids' upcoming appearance in the first Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 22 in San Diego, that makes three straight postseason contests for Johnson and his squad, a novelty in Navy's recent football history.

Keystone for Johnson's winning history is his successful execution of the option.

Case in point is Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, a former Star-Bulletin first-team All-State selection from Kapolei. Now a freshman at Navy, Kaheaku-Enhada became immediately attractive to Johnson as an option quarterback for the Hurricanes. Earlier this season, he gained valuable game experience at quarterback against Stanford, and he remains a strong candidate to succeed senior Lamar Owens as Navy's signal caller in the seasons ahead. Navy coaches put him at wide receiver this season in an effort to get him on the field, and he has five tackles on special teams.

Johnson also recruited center Reyn Kaupiko, currently a reserve. A sophomore, Kaupiko arrived at Navy from Kamehameha Schools, where he was a three-year starter. This week's Navy press release calls him an "outstanding prospect" with "a chance to start in the future."

Johnson also has Hawaii talent on his coaching staff.

Ken Niumatalolo played quarterback under Johnson at UH in the late 1980s, and was hired to join the staff there following graduation. In 1995, Johnson brought Niumatalolo with him to Navy, and when Johnson returned as the Mids' head coach in 2002, Niumatalolo was eventually promoted to assistant head coach. Niumatalolo ran the team Tuesday when Johnson was hospitalized with sharp pain in his stomach and legs, then released.

"It was almost déjà vu because I was in Hawaii when he had his other episode," Niumatalolo said.

Johnson returned to practice yesterday and expected to coach in the Army-Navy game.

For his part, Johnson does not hesitate to pick up the phone and check in with his constituency back in the Pacific.

"I had a great experience there, and nothing but good things," he said.

"If something works for you, stay with it. The program was a big part of our success, so I intend to stay in touch over there."