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I've heard a lot of rumblings out of Hawaii that Mel deLaura was going to SMU to fill the spot opened up by Vic leaving, so I'm curious as to whether or not the rumors are true.

Recently it was announced that Tommy Heffernan was replacing Mel at UH and was going to be in charge of the offseason conditioning program for football, as well as serve as the Warriors' lead strength coach. Now several people (including Dave Reardon, a very senior writer for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin) are saying that the only reason that Heffernan got the job to oversee the offseason workouts for football is that Mel is leaving to work with JJ. The timing seems to indicate that Vic took the job at Florida State and a few days later Heffernan was put in charge of planning the offseason program for the football team.

Mel and JJ were teammates in Hawaii and in Portland State and have been lifelong friends. He was a WR and JJ was a QB. With Vic leaving (with Florida State giving him apparently more than 2x his SMU salary), it would make sense for JJ to turn to Mel as a replacement. Mel was the lead S/C coach for the football team at Hawaii for 10 years (he was hired by JJ when JJ took the Hawaii job in 1999).

If you want to read an old article that Dave Reardon wrote about Mel, the link is below:

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/0 ... tory2.html

No pictures of Hawaii girls???

Mel DeLaura
Assistant Strength Coordinator



Mel deLaura’s tenure with the University of Hawai‘i football program started with his relationship with former head coach June Jones more than 20 years ago. Currently, deLaura is the team’s strength and conditioning coach, a position he has occupied since 1999.

A former wide receiver, deLaura implements training techniques he has learned throughout the years. One particular technique he employs is plyometrics, which are aerobic exercises that improve jumping and quickness.

For the last six summers, deLaura also helped develop young Hawai‘i athletes alongside UH associate coach Rich Miano at the Speed and Quickness Camp.

DeLaura and Jones met while attending UH before both transferred to Portland State, where they formed a lethal combination. Upon completion of his eligibility, deLaura received free-agent contracts with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. But a leg injury prior to training camp in Atlanta ended his career before it began.

The Damien Memorial School graduate returned to Hawai‘i in 1999 at the endorsement of Jones. Previously, he coached at a high school and worked as a personal trainer for professional athletes in Oregon.

DeLaura earned his bachelor’s degree in sports and recreation administration from Hawai‘i Pacific University. He and his wife, Rene, have three children, Isaiah, Noah and Makaela.

http://hawaiiathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=138&path=football

Yes...

This rumor has been circulating for some time now. If Coach Jones wants him — and if he has resigned his post at UH — I would bet he is headed to Dallas soon.

If so ... Welcome, Coach deLaura!

i dunno UH has recently had a string of injuries that I have concluded were conditioning injuries... but those injuries also came after JJ left Hawaii.. Maybe coach delaura doesnt know anything, or maybe its the current regime that is tying delauras hands behind his back.. i dont know anything anymore with whats going on here in Hawaii...

Coach Delaura will likely start one week from Monday.

I don't think the tempo will slow in the least.

Hmmm.....tatoos, kid named Makaela, worked with JJ in Hawaii, sure he will fit in here ? Wonder if Delaura and McNight will form a tag team and enter professional wrestlin ?

He looks like a Van Halen roadie. Sign him up.

My sources tell me JJ convinced Izzy Mandelbaum to come out of retirement:

RE Tycoon wrote:My sources tell me JJ convinced Izzy Mandelbaum to come out of retirement:

He can impress the kids by lifting a TV over his head. What you don't think he can do it? Mandelbaum...Mandelbaum...Mandelbaum!!!