It was back to the future for the University of Hawai'i football team, which yesterday officially re-introduced Greg McMackin as defensive coordinator and unveiled the revised 4-3 defensive scheme.

"It's just great to be back," said McMackin, who was the Warriors' defensive coordinator in 1999, June Jones' first season as UH head coach.

"I really came here for two reasons," McMackin added. "One, to work with June Jones. The other is to help coach Jones and the players and coaches get a WAC championship. What June has done here is amazing. I'm really excited and humbled to be back."

The announced hiring ends McMackin's status as "unpaid observer." Yesterday was the final day of the state-mandated waiting period to fill the coaching position vacated when Mouse Davis resigned last month.

On the books, McMackin replaces Davis. In reality, McMackin succeeds Jerry Glanville, who resigned as UH's defensive coordinator to become Portland State's head coach. Offensive line coach Dennis McKnight, for legal purposes, replaced Glanville.

"We had fun in '99," Jones said. "As I tell all of my coaches, I try to make their job the best job they've ever had. That's what has happened. Every coach who has ever left has called and wanted to come back. Greg's lucky enough it worked out so he could do that."

After serving as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and at Miami and Navy, McMackin was prepared to make a long-term commitment when he joined the UH coaching staff in 1999.

But after that historic season, when the Warriors went 9-4 and won the O'ahu Bowl after going 0-12 in 1998, McMackin received an offer to join Texas Tech as associate head coach and defensive coordinator. Texas Tech offered a $350,000 annual package; McMackin earned about $80,000 at UH.

"He had to go," Jones said. "He had 350,000 reasons to go. I told him: 'There's no decision. You have to go.' "

McMackin recalled: "I came here (in 1999) to stay for life with June. I bought a house here. I brought my whole family over. And then life happens, and I got an opportunity I wasn't looking for. Texas Tech made a great offer, and June even knew I had to go."

He spent three years with Texas Tech. From 2003 through 2005, he was the San Francisco 49ers' assistant head coach. After Dennis Erickson was fired as the 49ers' head coach, McMackin remained on the payroll last year.

He turned down an opportunity to join Erickson at Idaho last year, instead opting to undergo reconstructive knee surgery. He recuperated in Lubbock, Texas, where he owns a home. His daughter and two grandchildren also live in Lubbock.

Despite receiving other offers, McMackin wanted to return to UH.

"I even canceled meetings when I was at San Francisco to watch Hawai'i's games," McMackin said. "Anytime it was on pay TV or ESPN, I watched every game."

McMackin said his wife arrives tomorrow, but his daughter and grandchildren will remain in Lubbock.

"My daughter has a good situation in Texas," he said. "She has her own business."

McMackin, who also owns a house in Las Vegas, is looking to put down roots in Hawai'i.

"I'm going to be here as long as June's here," McMackin said. "This is the last guy I'm going to coach with. He's like family. We were together a long time in the USFL. He's from Oregon. I really think he's the best coach in the game. I really do, and I've been with a lot of great coaches."

McMackin made an immediate positive impact on the Warriors' defense in 1999. His blitzing schemes rely heavily on fast players, but there was little time to recruit.

Instead, he improved the team speed through creative measures. Cornerbacks became safeties. Safeties became outside linebackers. Outside linebackers became inside linebackers. Inside linebackers became defensive ends. Without changing the roster, the Warriors were faster.

He also changed the cornerbacks' roles, dividing them into "boundary" and "field." Quincy LeJay, a physical defender, was the boundary cornerback aligned on the narrow side of the formation. Shawndel Tucker, who was fast but not physical, defended the wide side.

The Warriors' defensive speed was key in victories over Fresno State and Oregon State.

In anticipation of McMackin's hiring, the Warriors began the transition from last year's 3-4 defense to the 4-3. George Lumpkin, who coached the outside linebackers last year, will coach the defensive ends this season. Cal Lee will be in charge of the linebackers.

The 4-3 is essentially a two-man front (defensive tackles Michael Lafaele and Keala Watson) with the ends and outside linebackers either pass-rushing or dropping into coverage.

"The change won't be great," Jones said. "We'll run the same blitz schemes. Jerry added some things, just like (defensive coordinator Tom) Lempa added some things. But all of the calls and all of the principles are the same as they were in '99. Amani (Purcell) has the same assignment (as a defensive end) as he had last year (as an outside linebacker), but he's got a hand on the ground."

Lee said: "If you've got 11 guys who love to play defense, they'll make any system work. We've got guys who love to play defense."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.