Earlier in the day we noted that a former North Carolina football player had gone back to his alma mater to continue his coaching career. As it turns out, both Hawaii and UMass have seen former players return home as well.
Hawaii late this past week announced that new head coach Nick Rolovich has added Craig Stutzmann as his passing-game coordinator. Rolovich and Stutzmann were teammates with the Rainbow Warriors 15 or so years ago.
The past two seasons, Stutzmann, who left UH as the school’s fifth all-time leading receiver, spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Virginia’s Emory & Henry College. This will mark Stutzmann’s first on-field role at an FBS program.
“Another Warrior returns to the ‘āina, a man who has succeeded as a student-athlete and person in this program,” Rolovich said. “Stutz understands our culture, has lived aloha and played warrior. Since leaving our shores in 2009, he has acquired a wealth of knowledge in various offensive schemes and has paid his dues in the coaching world. I am convinced there’s no place he’d rather be than Pride Rock.”
Meanwhile, out in Amherst, Mass., UMass confirmed that a former football Minutemen, Matt Dawson, will serve as Mark Whipple‘s tight ends coach. The former UMass linebacker will also assist with special teams.
The past two seasons, Dawson served as linebackers coach at Rhode Island. Like Stutzmann, this will be Dawson’s first on-field job at the FBS level.
“Matt Dawson is Massachusetts alum who truly embodies everything our university and program are about,” the Minutemen’s head coach said in his statement. “I’m excited to have him. He brings great knowledge and expertise.”
In another tweak of his staff, Whipple announced that graduate assistant Scott Woodward has been promoted to quarterbacks coach. Woodward replaces Liam Coen, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Maine.
Interestingly, Woodward was Coen’s backup at quarterback when the they played for the Minutemen a decade ago.