UH's Millhouse made right choice

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kevin Millhouse initially rejected Hawai'i after being recruited to play wide receiver. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

As a senior at Mater Dei High in California, Millhouse was recruited as a wide receiver. But Millhouse believed he was better suited to play defensive back in college. He turned down UH's offer and instead enrolled at Mount San Antonio (junior) College in California.

"That was the first time in history we lost a recruit to air," said Rich Miano, who coordinates UH's pass defense. "Usually, we lose to big schools or small schools, but we've never lost to nobody. We kept saying to ourselves, 'How did we lose him to a junior college he was paying to attend?' "

But Millhouse, who had met the academic requirements to play as an NCAA freshman, recalled: "I basically went to Mount Sac to prove I could play corner and to see if I could get a scholarship as a cornerback."

The gamble paid off in December 1999 when the Warriors, in search of a tall cornerback with speed, found ... Millhouse.

"There he was again," Miano said. "He was exactly what we were looking for."

This time, the 6-foot-1 Millhouse signed with UH, as a cornerback. But when Millhouse reported to training camp in August 2000, the coaches believed he was a better fit at safety. Miano made the pitch to Millhouse and "he looked at me like I was crazy. He wanted to play corner."

While Millhouse had the height to play bump-and-run against taller receivers, he needed to work on his hips — the ability to change directions quickly — and endurance. Miano said Millhouse has improved noticeably in both areas.

"When he focuses on his weaknesses," Miano said, "the sky's the limit."

After redshirting in 2000, Millhouse won the job at left cornerback and started 23 consecutive games during the last two years. He holds the school record for pass deflections in a game (5), season (18) and career (34). He needs four interceptions to tie Keoni Jardine's school record of 13 in a career.

During the offseason, Millhouse, when he wasn't working at Abercrombie & Fitch, focused on muscle-endurance exercises "so in the fourth quarter I'm not as tired."

Of his move to defensive back, Millhouse said, "I think it was the best decision. Wide receiver is a glory position, but I love the challenge of being a cornerback. It's a lot like the quarterback position. When you're playing well, everybody is with you. When you don't play well, everybody is down on you. But the challenge is what makes it fun."