College Football | McMackin takes over at Hawaii

HONOLULU — Greg McMackin's first head-coaching job was with the Warriors of Aloha High School in Oregon. Now, 40 years later in the land of aloha, he has come full circle.

McMackin was hired as Hawaii's coach Wednesday after serving as its defensive coordinator last season on a team that went undefeated until losing the Sugar Bowl.

He replaces June Jones, who left the Warriors to coach Southern Methodist less than a week after they were routed by Georgia. McMackin, who was the Seahawks' defensive coordinator from 1995 to 1998, agreed to a five-year deal that will pay him $1.1 million a season, making him the highest-paid coach in school history. He will earn 10 times his 2007 salary.

McMackin, 58, said the Warriors will not change their wide-open offense that flourished last season behind NFL-bound quarterback Colt Brennan.

"What we have to do is build on what we have now," McMackin said. "We're going to keep what June has built. There's no reason to fix something that isn't broken."

McMackin said he wants to be the "glue to hold it together."

The Warriors finished the regular season 12-0, then lost 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl.

Notes

• West Virginia's lawsuit against Rich Rodriguez was transferred to federal court because the former Mountaineers coach had moved to Michigan when it was filed. The suit was filed in a local court on Dec. 27 to collect on a $4 million buyout clause in his contract.

• Two Penn State players were ordered to stand trial on refiled felony assault charges in connection with a campus fight last year. Police said defensive tackle Chris Baker and linebacker Navorro Bowman beat up a man during a party in October.

• Saskatchewan Roughriders coach Kent Austin has left the CFL to become offensive coordinator at Mississippi, where he once was a star quarterback. Austin led the Roughriders to the Grey Cup last season. Mississippi tackle Michael Oher changed his mind and decided to return to school for his senior season, two days after making himself eligible for the NFL draft.

• Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore has filed paperwork with the NFL to declare for the draft.

• Northwestern hired two new coordinators, choosing Mick McCall to run the offense and Mike Hankwitz the defense for coach Pat Fitzgerald.

• Former Texas quarterback Major Applewhite, 29, is rejoining the Longhorns as an assistant coach, leaving his job as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama.