That the rising price of fuel and climbing airfares have hardly deterred college football recruiters from making a beeline to the state is underlining testament to the considerable reputation Hawai'i enjoys for turning out quality players.

So many, in fact, that this state has continually ranked in the per capita top 10 for producing both college and NFL players over the years.

But what is less trumpeted, and often sadly overlooked, is that there's been no paucity of coaching talent working the sidelines, either.

The coaches who have come out of — or remain — here have, in recent years especially, touched the NFL and nearly every major collegiate conference. Not to mention the high school coaches who mentor all the players up front.

So, it was notable and altogether fitting that the CBS sports Web site, sportsline.com, in posting its "All-Coach Team" recently had two Hawai'i-bred members on its 10-man list (head coach, two coordinators and seven position assistants) and another as an honorable mention.

UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Colorado linebackers coach Brian Cabral made the team while UH receivers coach (and now offensive coordinator) Ron Lee was an honorable mention pick as a receivers coach.

Now, keep in mind that the whole project was a summer filler and, at that, one man's opinion. And some of it was rounding up the usual suspects and institutions — USC, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma ...

But Dennis Dodd, who compiled the series, is widely respected for his insight and painstaking homework. Indeed, such have been his credits that the choice of Chow was fairly straightforward. But outside of the Big 12 the Cabral pick took some knowledge, though his 18-year body of work with the Buffaloes says it shouldn't have.

Not more than a couple of the 70-something non-Hawai'i reporters at the Sugar Bowl knew who UH's receivers coach was then or could recite his resume five months later. But Dodd did — and does — while backing up Lee's mention with observations. "From Ashley Lelie to Chad Owens to Ryan Grice-Mullins to Davone Bess, Lee has cranked out pass catchers and NFL prospects..." Dodd wrote.

From Ken Niumatalolo as head coach at Navy through assistants Duane Akina (Texas), Robert Anae (Brigham Young) and Rich Miano and Cal Lee at UH, to name but a sampling, locally produced coaches have been making their marks. And more are on the way all the time.

This list just says that, like the players from Hawai'i, the coaches are getting their due, too.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.