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HONOLULU (AP) Hawaii has hired Nevada offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich as its head football coach.
Athletic director David Matlin announced the hiring of the former Hawaii quarterback in a news release Friday.
''He understands what it means to be a Warrior having played and coached here and what affect a winning program has with this community,'' Matlin said. ''I have no doubt we picked the right man for this job. The future is bright for Hawai'i football.''
Rolovich played for the Warriors in 2000 and '01 and coached under Greg McMackin from 2008-11. He was the team's primary play-caller in his final three seasons as a Hawaii assistant. He joined the Nevada staff in in 2012 and has been offensive coordinator for four seasons under Brian Polian.
''Being raised a Warrior, there is a great sense of excitement and responsibility about bringing back a winning tradition to Hawaii football,'' said Rolovich, a California native. ''I can't wait to get started. I'm honored to be selected to run this program which has made me into the man I am today.''
Hawaii fired Norm Chow this month after he went 10-36 in four seasons. The Rainbow Warriors never won more than four games under Chow. The program last reached a bowl game in 2010, when the Warriors went 10-4 under McMackin.
Hawaii plays its final game Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe.
Nevada plays San Diego State in its season finale and then will play in a bowl game.
''Both Nick and UH have been transparent throughout the whole process and I appreciated that very much,'' Polian said in a statement. ''I am confident that his candidacy did not affect our preparation for SDSU. We will handle any decisions regarding the staff internally and make those decisions known when the time is appropriate.''
