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Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football
Current season:
AmericanFootball current event 2024 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors logo MWC-Hawaii Warriors 2022 green helmet
First season 1909
Athletic director Craig Angelos
Head coach Timmy Chang
3rd year, 8–18 (.308)
Home stadium Clarence T.C. Ching Complex
Stadium capacity 16,909 (2023-future)
Stadium surface Synthetic Turf
Location Honolulu, Hawai'i, U.S.
Conference Mountain West (MWC)
Division West (2013–2019 and 2021–present)
All-time history
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Historical Teams
1909
1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
All-time record 599–484–25 (.552)
Postseason bowl record 8–6 (.571)
Conference titles 4
Rivalries Fresno State Bulldogs (rivalry)
Air Force Falcons (rivalry)
Wyoming (rivalry)
UNLV (rivalry)
Current uniform
NCAA-MWC-2022 Hawaii Golden Rainbows uniforms
Colors Green, Black, Silver, and White

                             

Fight song University of Hawaii Fight Song Co-Ed
Mascot Vili the Warrior (1999-2011)
Marching band Rainbow Warriors Marching Band
Outfitter Adidas


The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors football team represents the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa located in the Mānoa neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawai'i.

The Rainbow Warriors are a member of the NCAA FBS Mountain West Conference, having joined in July 2012. Previous to the Mountain West, Hawai'i was part of the Western Athletic Conference before the WAC dropped football as a conference sport. The Rainbow Warriors play their homes games at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex in Honolulu and are currently coached by Timmy Chang.

From 2000 to 2013, Hawai'i's football team was known as the "Warriors" without the "Rainbow" connotation. The administration of the University of Hawai'i ordered that all of their sports teams would be known as the Rainbow Warriors as of July 1, 2013.[1]

Rivalries[]

Fresno State[]

  • Main article: Fresno State–Hawaii rivalry

With the BYU rivalry losing steam after the Cougars left the WAC in 1999, the rivalry with Fresno State has increased greatly in recent years, with both teams being the oldest members of the WAC contending regularly for the conference championship. Coaches from both schools have accused each side of various episodes of poor sportsmanship over the years, and both schools have some of the nation's rowdiest home fans. The rivalry has featured some lopsided results, including a 70–14 Fresno victory over Hawai'i in 2004 and a 68–37 Warriors victory in 2006 over Fresno State. In 2007, allegations that Fresno State fans were physically and verbally abused by hometown Hawai'i fans circulated the internet and television media added to this rivalry.

It was being reported that several Fresno State fans attempted to warn Boise State fans from attending Hawai'i football games due to potential violence against them, however no incidents were reported by Boise State fans and many photographs from Hawai'i-based publications covered incidents where Hawai'i and Boise State fans were seen mingling together before and after their 2007 game. The rivalry still continues to be one that is anticipated by both sides and continues to the present, with Fresno State having joined the Mountain West Conference in 2012, reuniting it with Hawai'i and other former WAC members in Nevada and Boise State.

Air Force[]

  • Main article: Air Force–Hawaii rivalry

This is one of the oldest rivalries involving Hawaii, along with the Fresno State rivalry. This rivalry is attributed to the late General Laurence S. Kuter, who was stationed on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam as commander of the Pacific Air Forces. This led to the creation of the Kuter Trophy, a symbol of sportsmanship and school pride, but also the eternal friendship between the Air Force and Hawaii. The Falcons are in possession of the trophy following a 56–26 win in Honolulu in 2019.

Wyoming[]

  • Main article: Hawaii–Wyoming rivalry

Wyoming and Hawaii play for the Paniolo Trophy. The rivalry was renewed in 2013 after 15 years when Hawaii joined the Mountain West Conference in 2012. Because the two teams could not find the original trophy, a new trophy was modeled after a statue that stands in Waimea on the Big Island at the Parker Ranch Center. Wyoming won that game in Laramie 59–56 in overtime. Before that, the last time the two schools met was in 1997 in the old Western Athletic Conference with Wyoming winning 35–6 in Honolulu. Hawaii holds the Paniolo Trophy as they won the most recent meeting, 38–14 in Laramie, their first since 1991. Wyoming leads the overall series 15–11.

San Jose State[]

Dick Tomey Legacy Game

The two schools were each led by legendary coach Dick Tomey, who died in 2019. The winner of the rivalry game each year takes possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. San Jose State currently holds the trophy after winning the last two meetings, both in Honolulu.

UNLV[]

Beginning in 2017, the annual game between UNLV and Hawaii gained a rivalry trophy when the California Hotel and Casino donated the "Golden Pineapple" to the winner of the game. Las Vegas, Nevada has long been a popular destination for Hawaiians for both pleasure and relocation, so much so that it has been dubbed "the Ninth Island", with the Cal Hotel in particular aggressively marketing itself to Hawaiian tourists. The 'Bows lead the all-time series between the two schools 18-13 as of 2021.

Logos / Uniforms[]

Affiliations[]

  • 2012-present - Mountain West Conference
  • 1979-2011 - Western Athletic Conference
  • 1909-1978 - Independent

Seasons[]

2020s[]

Season Coach Record
2024 Timmy Chang
2023 Timmy Chang 5-8
2022 Timmy Chang 3-10
2021 Todd Graham 6-7
2020 Todd Graham 5-4

2010s[]

Season Coach Record
2019 Nick Rolovich 10-5
2018 Nick Rolovich 8-6
2017 Nick Rolovich 3-9
2016 Nick Rolovich 7-7
2015 Norm Chow, Chris Naeole 3-10
2014 Norm Chow 4-9
2013 Norm Chow 1-11
2012 Norm Chow 3-9
2011 Greg McMackin 6-7
2010 Greg McMackin 10-4

2000s[]

Season Coach Record
2009 Greg McMackin 6-7
2008 Greg McMackin 7-7
2007 June Jones 12-1
2006 June Jones 11-3
2005 June Jones 5-7
2004 June Jones 8-5
2003 June Jones 9-5
2002 June Jones 10-4
2001 June Jones 9-3
2000 June Jones 3-9

1990s[]

Season Coach Record
1999 June Jones 9-4
1998 Fred von Appen 0-12
1997 Fred von Appen 3-9
1996 Fred von Appen 2-10
1995 Bob Wagner 4-8
1994 Bob Wagner 3-8-1
1993 Bob Wagner 6-6
1992 Bob Wagner 11-2
1991 Bob Wagner 4-7-1
1990 Bob Wagner 7-5

1980s[]

Season Coach Record
1989 Bob Wagner 9-3-1
1988 Bob Wagner 9-3
1987 Bob Wagner 5-7
1986 Dick Tomey 7-5
1985 Dick Tomey 4-6-2
1984 Dick Tomey 7-4
1983 Dick Tomey 5-5-1
1982 Dick Tomey 6-5
1981 Dick Tomey 9-2
1980 Dick Tomey 8-3

References[]

  1. Staff (May 14, 2013). Nickname Of UH Men's Teams To Be Rainbow Warriors. University of Hawaiʻi.

External Links[]

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