With all indications pointing to the announcement of Greg McMackin as the new University of Hawai'i head football coach, the Warriors will be able to enter the recruiting wars a little late but with ample time to make up ground.

UH hopes to bring in its first set of recruits this weekend. The "contact period" for recruiting, in which authorized staffers are able to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations, began Sunday. Several schools have already hosted recruits on their campuses.

The contact period ends Feb. 2 and is followed by a one-day "quiet period," in which recruits are still allowed on campuses.

The first day to sign National Letters of Intent is Feb. 6.

"Obviously the No. 1 issue (with a quick appointment) is recruiting," said UH assistant coach Jeff Reinebold. "We're inside of 30 days. The day to declare for the NFL draft and the Letter of Intent signing day are the two biggest days in college football. It's how we restock the talent pool.

"You can have great coaches but if you don't have players, you'll struggle to win," he said. "The sooner we can put questions about who's going to be the coach, and all the other questions parents and players have, to bed, the sooner we can begin that process. It's not too late."

The head football coach selection committee is expected to meet with McMackin and UH associate football coach George Lumpkin today, then forward its recommendation to UH President David McClain by mid-afternoon.

Following last Friday's monthly UH Board of Regents meeting, McClain said that he is "shooting for" having a coach in place this week.

The emphasis put on ensuring a smooth transition between coaches and maintaining continuity with the existing team in public statements made by McClain, UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw also seem to favor McMackin, who has the support of assistant coaches and players.

A press conference to announce the new coach is expected to take place tomorrow morning.

On Friday, the UH Board of Regents will convene a special session to sign off of the school's settlement with outgoing athletics director Herman Frazier, the appointment of Carl Clapp as acting athletics director, and the new head football coach's employment agreement.

The BOR will also discuss the audit report on UH-Manoa Athletics.

Reinebold said he and other assistants have maintained weekly telephone contact with recruits, as allowed by NCAA regulations, during the upheaval following June Jones' departure for Southern Methodist University and the firing of Frazier.

"We've been trying, in our own individual ways, to contact players and encourage them not to sign (with another school) yet," Reinebold said. "There is no need for them to hurry, just let the dealer deal all the cards."

Reinebold said it will be important to determine how many of the program's "gray shirts" — players who are sitting out a semester to preserve their maximum five years of NCAA eligibility — will honor their commitment to the team.

That count will affect the total number of scholarships the team is able to offer.

NCAA Division I programs can offer a maximum of 25 scholarships per class, and carry a maximum of 85 scholarship athletes overall.

Because of the late start, Reinebold said it is likely this year's Warriors class will number about 20.

"That's why it's so important that we have a quality class," he said. "I'm sure we'll have a great class."

Whether he'll be around to coach them is still up in the air.

Reinebold has a standing offer from Jones to join his staff at SMU, but he'll likely have to make a decision quickly: Jones said Sunday that he hopes to finalize that staff this week in order to move forward with recruiting.

"I'm like the recruits," he said. "I don't know what opportunities are out there and I can't make a decision until I know what's on the table. Once I know that, I'll make a decision for my family and for all of the professional considerations that are involved."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.