Tuesday, November 30, 1999
COACH OF THE YEAR
WAC honors
for Jones, ’Bows
Hawaii's June Jones is named
By Paul Arnett
Western Athletic Conference Coach
of the Year; six Rainbows earn
first-team honors on the
All-WAC team
Star-BulletinJune Jones was named coach of the year today by the Western Athletic Conference.
In his first year as the Hawaii head coach, Jones took a program that finished 0-12 last season and led it to a conference co-championship and its third postseason appearance in 11 seasons.
"It's nice if you win something like this, but you certainly don't go into a season expecting it," Jones said. "What makes a season like this special is seeing the faces of the players, especially our seniors. They have been through so much, it's satisfying for me to play a part in this turnaround."
Several of his seniors contributed to the Rainbows' eight-game swing that equaled an NCAA record for the best turnaround.
Middle linebacker Jeff Ulbrich topped the list of Rainbows named to the first team on defense.
The 6-foot-1, 243-pound senior led the WAC in tackles with 169, including eight quarterback sacks. He broke UH's single-season record of 148 tackles set by Tim Buchanan in 1968.
"Jeff has been the heart and soul of our defense," Jones said. "He's deserving of any award given to him."
Cornerback Quincy LeJay joins Ulbrich on the first-team defensive unit.
LeJay led the league in interceptions with seven, including returning three for touchdowns.
"This is the kind of season you dream about as a defensive back," said LeJay, who wasn't listed as a starter during parts of fall camp. "The individual awards are great, but it doesn't compare to what we did as a team this season."
On offense, the 'Bows placed three players on the first team.
Dwight Carter, a Los Angeles-area standout, heads the UH contingent at wide receiver. He led the WAC in receptions with 77 and yards with 1,253, and tied UTEP wide receiver Lee Mays in touchdowns with nine.
Also named were offensive tackles Kaulana Noa and Adrian Klemm.
Noa started 48 consecutive games at right tackle and Klemm anchored the left tackle spot. Hawaii yielded only 24 sacks, not bad considering senior Dan Robinson attempted a school-record 556 passes.
Jones thought Robinson should have been named first team at quarterback, but that honor went to Fresno State's Billy Volek.
The Rainbows landed several players on the second team, including Robinson. They were defensive lineman Matt Paul and punter Chad Shrout.
Hawaii's Jamal Garland was also named to the first team as a return specialist.
All-WAC team
OFFENSE
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Rodney Wright Fresno State 5-8 175 So. WR Dwight Carter Hawaii 5-10 174 Sr. TE Brian Natkin UTEP 6-4 245 Sr. OL Adrian Klemm Hawaii 6-5 322 Sr. OL Kaulana Noa Hawaii 6-5 317 Sr. OL Neal Gray Rice 6-3 275 Sr. OL David Bobo TCU 6-5 285 Jr. OL Carey Clayton UTEP 6-4 272 Jr. QB Billy Volek Fresno State 6-2 210 Sr. RB LaDainian Timlinson TCU 5-11 210 Jr. RB Paul Smith UTEP 5-11 235 Sr.DEFENSE
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Alan Harper Fresno State 6-2 275 So. DL Luke Johnson SMU 6-1 230 Sr. DL Aaron Schobel TCU 6-4 246 Jr. DL Brian Young UTEP 6-4 274 Sr. LB Orlando Huff Fresno State 6-3 220 Jr. LB Jeff Ulbrich Hawaii 6-1 243 Sr. LB Jason Simonton SMU 5-11 225 Sr. DB Anthony Limbrick Fresno State 6-1 195 Jr. DB Qunicy LeJay Hawaii 5-9 183 Sr. DB Tracy Hart SMU 5-11 195 Sr. DB Todd Franz Tulsa 6-1 190 Sr.SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. PK Jeff Hanna Fresno State 6-1 196 Sr. P Tim Morgan San Jose State 6-6 213 Sr. ST Jamal Garland Hawaii 5-10 174 So. ST Chris Cunningham SMU 5-8 175 Fr.Offensive player of the year: LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU
Second team
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