Norm Chow, the former Utah and BYU assistant coach, was fired this week as head coach at Hawaii. His 10-36 overall record and more specifically his 4-25 conference mark werent enough.
He didnt get his first head coaching position until he was 65. Now at 69, its hard to imagine him wanting to continue elsewhere. If he does, it will be as an assistant a position he held from 1973 until 2012.
Ravell Call Deseret News photoSome might laugh over the firing, saying Chow just isnt the head coach type. I disagree. If leading the Rainbow Warriors is considered a real coaching job, its news to me. Hawaii is the most financially strapped Division I program in the country. Its impossible to keep the local talent from migrating east to bigger schools and its hard to get recruits to come west from the mainland because its too expensive for parents to visit.
Chow was Utahs offensive coordinator in 2011, the Utes' first year in the Pac-12. Somehow he helped take them to a winning record and a victory in the Sun Bowl, using a quarterback who hadnt been offered a single Division I scholarship. Jordan Wynns injury gave way to Jon Hays, and Chow made it work, simplifying the offense and not reaching too far.
I wasnt in the locker room, but at least from my vantage he had a likability and honesty that was appealing.
After Hawaii's 47-10 loss to Utah State in 2013, he told me, I dont know. Im too old for this. Im way too old for this. I had fun as an assistant. I dont know about all this stuff.
He said it jokingly, in a wry, self-deprecating way. But back in Hawaii it was taken to mean he had given up. The talk radio stations in Honolulu had fun with that.
Chow failed to win at Hawaii, but under the circumstances I dont believe even Urban Meyer could have. Morale is low almost as low as the talent level. Theres no financial relief on the horizon. And the problems were there before Chow arrived.
So Im giving him a pass.Im dont believe he was unfit to be a head coach.
Id have to see him with a real team, and a fair chance to build a program, to make that call.