At least one member of the Hawai'i football team's coaching staff feels that defensive coordinator Greg McMackin would be "a great candidate" to replace June Jones as head coach.

"In '99, (McMackin) was on June's staff and it was one of the greatest turnarounds in NCAA history," defensive backs coach Rich Miano said in reference to a 9-4 season that followed 1998's 0-12 campaign. "He came back this year and we had the greatest season in UH history.

"He's worked with the Lee brothers (assistants Cal and Ron), he understands Hawai'i, he's great with kids, he does a great job with the assistant coaches. I think he'd be a great candidate from within. I think it should come from within. In my opinion, and I think from some other people on the staff, he's our leader."

With McMackin, there would be continuity from the program's most successful season that saw the Warriors win their first outright Western Athletic Conference title and play in their first Bowl Championship Series game. Although the staff was invited to join Jones at Southern Methodist University, most of the assistants are likely to remain, if McMackin is named Jones' successor.

"We went 12-1 this past season and I know that June has left, but we have good systems on offense and defense and special teams," Miano said. "We have good coaches, we have good players. To start again at ground zero is something you do when you're 1-12, not when you're 12-1."

McMackin, who turns 59 on April 24, was not among the five candidates Jones listed in his resignation letter to UH as his replacement, presumably because it was thought McMackin would also go to SMU. Texas assistant Duane Akina, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, UH assistant Cal Lee and San Jose State coach and former UH coach Dick Tomey were named.

But McMackin, who has shown an interest in the job according to people involved in the process, has the credentials to match, if not surpass, the other five. He was a head coach at Oregon Tech from 1986 to 1990 and defensive coordinator not only at UH, but at Texas Tech, Miami, Navy, Utah and Idaho. McMackin also was a defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 1995 to 1998 and was associate head coach with the San Francisco 49ers from 2003 to 2005.

Besides keeping continuity, picking McMackin would not interrupt UH's recruiting effort. Although Jones' contract was to expire June 30, the assistants' contracts expire March 31. The assistants are continuing to recruit. The first day high school players can sign binding national letters of intent is Feb. 6.

REGISTER FOR SPEED AND QUICKNESS CAMP

Hawai'i Speed and Quickness Camp returns this weekend.

The sessions are 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the UH Athletic Complex. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and costs $10. It is open to all ages.

Warriors assistant coach Rich Miano and assistant strength coach Mel deLaura conduct the sessions along with UH athletes from various sports.

For more information and a camp schedule, go to www.hawaiispeedandquickness.com.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.