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McKnight will join Jones at SMU
Hawaii offensive line coach Dennis McKnight will join former UH head coach June Jones and two other Warrior assistants on the Southern Methodist football staff.
McKnight leaves today for Dallas along with quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison and running backs coach Wes Suan.
"It's very difficult to leave, and I'll miss every one of the players I worked with. They're all great young men," McKnight said last night, from a going-away party at Sidestreet Inn. "The fans have been great, too. Tonight's a very difficult night. I'll always have Hawaii tattoo'd to me. And like General MacArthur said when he left the Philippines, 'I shall return.' "
McKnight is concluding a second stint on the UH staff. He was special teams coach and assistant offensive line coach in 1999 and 2000. He returned to the Warriors as a graduate assistant in 2006, working with the same units. The former NFL long snapper regained a regular staff position last season.
McKnight said he welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with Jones. He also said he was uncertain if he would be retained on the Warriors staff by a new head coach.
"June gave me my first opportunity, and I'll always be loyal to him for that," McKnight said.
UH could name a new head coach as early as Wednesday. Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin is widely believed to be the leading candidate.