The football series between Hawaii and Army will give yet another service academy coach a chance to face his alma mater.

This fall, former UH quarterback Ken Niumatalolo returns to Aloha Stadium for Navy's visit in November.

Next year, new Army coach Rich Ellerson—a Hawaii linebacker in the 1970s—gets his shot when the Black Knights host the Warriors at West Point.

“;I've known (Ellerson) for a long time and he's an outstanding coach,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said. “;They're going to be a big challenge.”;

The Warriors and Black Knights begin a four-game home-and-home series next year when they meet Sept. 11, 2010, at Michie Stadium.

The series continues Nov. 30, 2013, in Honolulu. The remaining games are scheduled for Sept. 15, 2018, at West Point, and Nov. 30, 2019, in Honolulu.

“;We have a very strong following in the state of Hawaii and we look forward to giving our soldiers at Schofield Barracks an opportunity to see their football team in person,”; Army athletic director Kevin Anderson said in a release announcing the series yesterday.

Next year's game fills out the September 2010 schedule for the Warriors, who open at home against USC then play back-to-back road games at Army and Colorado. They return home to face UNLV.

It'll be the fifth straight year UH's schedule includes a two-game road trip. They played at Utah State and New Mexico State on consecutive Saturdays last year. They'll face Washington State in Seattle then play at UNLV this fall.

“;We should have the routine down,”; McMackin said of preparing for an extended mainland stay.

Hawaii has one more opening to fill on the nonconference slate for 2010.

Along with playing at UH, Ellerson served as defensive coordinator from 1987 to 1991.

“;Obviously there is a tremendous military presence in the state of Hawaii and I have a connection with the University of Hawaii,”; Ellerson said in the release. “;We've talked about having a presence west of the Mississippi and Hawaii is about as far west of the Mississippi as you can go and still speak English.”;

Summer plans

The first practice of fall camp is scheduled for Aug. 6, and the staff has enough to keep it busy until then.

The coaches are already working on game plans for the first three games of the season and the assistants are making the rounds at local high schools (head coaches are not allowed to visit campuses during the spring).

The players will resume their training in unsupervised workouts when summer school starts May 26.

The program will also host a series of summer camps next month starting with the Kids Camp (ages 5-12) set for June 13 and 14.

The Skills Camp is June 16-19 and the Big Man's Camp for linemen is June 22-24. Both are open to players ages 13 and older.

The Koa Kid camp for players entering the third through eighth grades is set for June 29 to July 2.

More information is available at HawaiiAthletics.com or by calling 956-6508.