UH backin’ McMackin

Greg McMackin was expected to be announced this morning as the 21st head coach of the University of Hawaii football team.

McMackin, defensive coordinator under former head coach June Jones, was interviewed by a selection committee yesterday, as was fellow UH assistant George Lumpkin.

A news conference for 8 a.m. today was announced at 7 p.m. yesterday by UH, although the selection of McMackin had not yet been officially made.

"We're just setting it up to be ready if things go according to the way it is expected," spokesman Derek Inouchi said.

Two sources have told the Star-Bulletin that the job will pay $1.1 million per year and the length of the contract will be five years.

"It was a good day," McMackin, 58, said yesterday. "We're just going through the process."

McMackin declined to discuss the job opening further.

Lumpkin said his interview went for more than an hour.

"It's a good committee, they asked good questions and I answered them the best I could," Lumpkin, also 58, said. "I appreciated the opportunity to interview and bring forth some of my concerns."