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Hawaii hires former star QB Timmy Chang as head coach

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Timmy Chang is returning to Hawaii to become the head coach of the team he quarterbacked from 2000-04, the school announced Saturday.

Chang, 40, spent the last five seasons as an assistant at Nevada. He followed Jay Norvell to Colorado State at the end of the 2021 campaign and was set to coach Rams wide receivers in 2022.

Hawaii spent one week looking for a head coach following Todd Graham's resignation. Graham left the program under controversy, as several players complained about the way he treated them and carried himself.

Chang broke the NCAA's all-time passing yards record at Hawaii, though Case Keenum eventually surpassed his mark. He'll come back to lead a program that went 6-7 last season and 11-11 over Graham's tenure.

Hawaii previously discussed a potential reunion with June Jones but couldn't agree to terms with the 68-year-old, who coached Chang throughout his college career. The school wanted to set up Chang as an heir apparent if it struck a deal with Jones.

Jones declined an official offer to take over at Hawaii, citing the short-term deal proposed to him and a lack of control he would've had over his staff. The school publicly bashed him before hiring Chang, saying Jones showed "zero integrity" for the hiring process.

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