Greg McMackin yesterday arrived in town to interview for the job as the University of Hawai'i football team's defensive coordinator.

McMackin was the Warriors' defensive coordinator in 1999, June Jones' first season as UH head coach.

After that season, McMackin left to become Texas Tech's defensive coordinator. He then coached the San Francisco 49er linebackers until Dennis Erickson was fired as head coach two years ago.

In a team meeting last week, Jones announced that McMackin and Jeff Reinebold, UH's defensive line coach, were the finalists to succeed Jerry Glanville as defensive coordinator. Glanville is now Portland State's head coach.

Mouse Davis, who served as UH's special teams coach last season, will join PSU as offensive coordinator.

The losses of Glanville and Davis create two openings on the UH staff. Dennis McKnight, a graduate assistant who coached the offensive line last season, is the leading candidate to fill one of the openings.

If Reinebold is promoted to defensive coordinator, UH will hire a defensive line coach. McMackin does not appear to be a candidate for any other UH job besides defensive coordinator.

Jones was scheduled to return to Honolulu last night after spending four days in Southern California.

Jones and McMackin will meet this morning.

Jones would like to name a defensive coordinator before the April 2 start of spring practice, although there is no established time table.

In his one season at UH, McMackin implemented an attacking, zone-blitz defense. Jones' only Western Athletic Conference title was in 1999.

While McMackin favored a four-man front when he was at UH, his schemes have the flexibility to adjust to the Warriors' current 3-4 alignment. In the 1999 O'ahu Bowl, the Warriors used a five-man front, essentially a 3-4, to defeat Oregon State.

McMackin also introduced the "Okie" package, which the Warriors have used in one form or another. In the Okie, which resembles a nickel defense, the defensive ends drop into pass coverage while the safeties or cornerbacks blitz

Glanville also held the UH title of associate head coach, which elevated him into a higher pay range. It is not known if the next defensive coordinator will also serve as associate coach.

NOTE

The Hawai'i Speed and Quickness clinics resume this weekend at the UH athletic complex. It is open to ages eighth grade and younger. Call 739-5444 or go to www.hawaiispeedandquickness.com for details.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.