March 3, 2022 // By: Jarin Kobashigawa
This week on Episode 27, UH defensive coordinator and outside linebackers Coach Jacob Yoro joins the Hawaiʻi Football Now Podcast as its first official guest. Yoro talks about how he’s embracing his new responsibilities as DC and shares what his vision is for the defense. Jordan Helle and Hunter Hughes learn from Yoro that the team is finding its leaders and progressing each day under head coach Timmy Chang and the new coaching staff.
The New Energy in Lower Campus
With Chang leading the Rainbow Warriors, a new energy has emerged. Yoro said he and the other coaches are wearing multiple hats in developing relationships with the players and training them. Beyond the field, the coaches are making a real effort to get out in the community and share their vision. This team is hard at work, but that’s what one would expect from a program that is so hungry for success.
The sense of renewed energy is partially what Yoro describes as “the honeymoon phase.” As the staff and players ride the public momentum built from the hiring of Chang, the program looks to maintain the level of excitement and motivation throughout spring ball and ride the momentum into the Fall.
Coach Yoro’s Defense
With a program that still holds a lot of initial scholarships, the transfer portal looks to be a big opportunity. Yoro said they are looking to host about four more official visit weekends through March and April as they look to fill in positions and round out their roster.
With spring ball approaching and the regular season just around the corner, Helle and Hughes asks Yoro if he has an idea or a vision for his defense. Yoro said they’ve been hard at work, trying to pull walls down to work from scratch. The players have learned about the coaching staff’s expectations which are summarized as, “play hard, play tough, and play together.” If this team is going to represent the state and its culture, Yoro said their effort should never be in question and the guys should play for one another rather than just with one another.
SPRING BALL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Spring ball, which is open to the public, begins on March 22. The Spring Game, which will include all-day festivities, will be on April 16, 2022. Chang’s vision for the spring game is a mock game-day like experience with a plethora of entertainment, keiki zones, food, a beer garden and more.