Rich Miano often behaves as if there is no "pause" button on the remote controlling the pace of his life.

Using income earned from his 11-year National Football League career, Miano bought five condominiums and houses in Hawai'i. Each is occupied.

He is part-owner of a cemetery on Kaua'i. "People are dying to get in," he said, smiling.

He is co-founder of Hawai'i Speed and Quickness, a not-for-profit organization that conducts 84 training sessions each year. The group has expanded its services to include after-school activities across the state, counseling programs for alcohol and drug abuse, and classes focusing on violence prevention and family strengthening.

He also is a licensed Realtor.

His primary job is UH assistant football coach, a position in which he mentors the defensive backs and oversees the walk-on program. Walk-ons are players not receiving athletic scholarships.

"Like (golfer) Sam Snead said about time management, 'There are 24 hours in a day,' " Miano said. "But coaching football is my full-time job. I make sure the other things don't take away from what I do at the University of Hawai'i. Football is my first love. This is my alma mater. This is the only job I want to do, and Hawai'i is the only place I want to be. I love everything about Hawai'i — the water, the culture and, most of all, the people. If I'm sitting at this desk 20 years from now, and I'm still the defensive back coach, that will be fine with me."

When June Jones accepted the UH head coaching job in December 1998, one of the first calls went to Miano. Jones empowered Miano to develop the walk-on program, a natural assignment for a former UH walk-on.

During Jones' UH tenure, six former walk-ons — Ashley Lelie, Travis LaBoy, Chad Owens, Matt McBriar, Wayne Hunter and James Fenderson — earned berths on NFL rosters.

Miano was the point man in recruiting free safety Leonard Peters and another walk-on, quarterback Colt Brennan, who led the nation in passing last season.

Miano slowed down to answer questions from The Advertiser:

On coordinating the walk-on program:

"When June first got the job, he recognized that I was a walk-on. He thought I'd have some sympathy or empathy for walk-ons. We've had a history, second to none in college football, of developing walk-ons. What coach Jones believes is, once you're on this team, you're treated the same. Somebody else might get a (scholarship) check, and you don't, but that doesn't matter. If you walk on at the University of Hawai'i, you have a chance to make an impact."

On growing up in Massachusetts:

"My mom passed away when I was 4 years old. I don't really have a lot of memories (of her). I have a little video, a little pictures, and stuff. She died of cancer. She was in the hospital for a couple of years. During that time, me and my brother and sister lived with my aunt and uncle because my dad had to take care of my mom. My mom was so beautiful in the videos. I wish I had more videos, more memories."

On moving to Hawai'i at age 16:

"The family moved to get away from what my dad saw. He (operated) nightclubs, bars and restaurants. He realized how run down our town and community were getting, how tough it would be for us to be successful. He had that foresight and vision. When we first moved to Hawai'i, we absolutely were in culture shock. I was 16. It was the last six weeks of my sophomore year at Kaiser High School. I never moved before, never been west of the Mississippi River. There was no vote. It was, 'We're moving. This is the right thing to do.' We were totally, totally in shock, and we were totally, totally against it.

"When we got off the plane, it was like, 'Whoa.' You can't go from one end of the spectrum to the other and stay in the United States and be that much different. We were absolutely rebellious. I didn't want to do anything."

On being recruited to the football team as a senior by Kaiser head coach Ron Lee and defensive coordinator Cal Lee:

"I was on the diving team (as a junior). Ron Lee and Cal Lee saw me. They were trying to get players for their football team. I was a decent-sized guy, a decent athlete who could do flips. They asked me to come out. Look at our team" — he points to a picture on his office wall — "we only had 35, 40 guys. We weren't like Kahuku. They were just looking for bodies."

On being snubbed by UH, despite being an All-State safety on the Kaiser team that won the O'ahu Prep Bowl in 1979:

"(UH offensive coordinator) Dave Fagg came to look at me and Boyd Yap (the state's Offensive Player of the Year). He told Ron Lee he wasn't going to offer me or Boyd Yap a scholarship. (Ron Lee and Cal Lee) fought like heck for both of us. It hurt. After that, I wanted to go to the Mainland. I thought that was my only chance because (the UH coaches) didn't want me. They didn't want Boyd Yap, either, but they eventually took him."

On why he decided to walk on at UH:

"What made me walk on was when my brother died. I felt it was the thing to do — for my dad and my family — to stay home. My brother's death was hard on the family. It really affected my dad. It took him years (to cope). He's had a lot of trauma in his life. But when somebody who's younger passes away, I think it's not what God intended.

"My brother and I were really close. He died when I was a senior in high school and he was a junior. He fell off a cliff in Hawai'i Kai. I went to school (that day), and when I came home, I could see there was something wrong. I never did see the body, but it was the most tragic thing. ... Everybody knows about those splitting caves in Hawai'i Kai. He happened to slip. He was with his girlfriend. She slipped, too, but she didn't fall. He did. He died, and she lived. It was one of those life-changing incidents. It was one of those things you don't even want to think about. We shared the same bedroom. We shared everything in life. He was planning on playing at Kaiser, and playing in my footsteps. It was the most traumatic thing that happened in my life."

On joining UH:

"I worked out for (then defensive coordinator) Bob Wagner. He thought I was so bad, he was embarrassed. He had to turn around to laugh. I was so nervous I would fall down doing back-pedaling drills.

"Academically, it was different back in those days. I didn't have to go through the (NCAA) Clearinghouse. My grades and my SAT scores weren't very good. I used to knock on (UH academic adviser) Leon Schumaker's door. He wouldn't be in. They made me take two summer-school classes to prove I could handle the academic load. I had to get a B or better. I got two Bs.

"(The UH coaches) didn't know I was coming (to training camp) because they assumed I wasn't getting in academically. I showed up. The didn't expect me. They weren't ready. I go to the cafeteria the first night. I said, 'Rich Miano,' and they tell me, 'We don't have a Rich Miano on our list.' You talk about adversity. Even when you think you're here, you're not here. They didn't have my name for equipment. I didn't get the hint. I had to get a coach to say I was going to be on the team. At that point, there was no turning back."

On the start of his UH career:

"My freshman class was (defensive lineman) Niko Noga, (quarterback) Raphel Cherry, (tight end) Kent Untermann, (linebacker) Anthony Woodson. It was like, 'Wow. I'm still in the wrong place. I don't deserve to be here.' Niko was the most impressive physical specimen. I saw Niko in a track meet my senior year of high school. He won the state shot put, then he was in the finals of the 100 meters. I've never seen an athlete like him. And (future NFL center) Jesse Sapolu was here. Mark Tuinei, Gary Allen. You talk about intimidation for a walk-on from Kaiser High School.

"I never played a down (that season), but at the end of the year, I was named the scout team player of the year, which means, basically, I was the scrub of the year. The next year, I redshirted. The third game of my third year, we're playing BYU. I'm still not starting. But the guy in front of me, Louis Santiago, gets hurt. I go in, and I intercept (future Half of Fame member) Steve Young. After that, I never missed another down. That was the first time I had an interception. It was one of the memories I'll never forget. But I was tackled at the 2-yard line, so guys razzed me."

On being drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round:

"When I got to the Jets, there were four defensive backs drafted in 12 rounds. We had 14 picks because we had a couple of supplementary picks. The USFL had just folded. They had good players coming from the USFL. The (NFL) rosters went from 49 to 45. I was sixth string, and I'm thinking there's no way I'm making it. There's only going to be two strings. When I walked into the cafeteria, there was this whole container of Dannon yogurt. All of the different flavors. I told myself, if I could eat every one of those flavors, one a day, and make it that long, that would be my goal. I made it to the last cut. They had five more guys to cut. We played the Green Bay Packers. I get an interception. I think I'm doing good. The Turk (the coach who informs a player he didn't make the team) hasn't cut anybody. I'm in this room working out, and the Turk comes in. I see him go to Bob Avellini, the old Bears quarterback. The Turk cuts him. He walks to me. I'm looking around. I thought, 'I hope he's not going to cut me, not going to take away my livelihood.' He said to me: 'You've been cut. Bring your playbook to the head coach.'

"I flew back to Hawai'i. The next day, Sept. 3, is my birthday. I get a call from dad in the morning that the Houston Oilers picked me up. At that time, the New York Jets had first right of refusal. (The Jets) called and told me they're picking me up. So, I flew back to New York. We played the Raiders that week. So I go back to California. We lost, 31-0, then we fly back to New York. I flew 18,000 miles that week, and we're 0-1. The next week, I get two interceptions against Vince Ferragamo. I'm leading the AFC in interceptions, but I was cut seven days earlier. I went from college to getting cut in the NFL to an 11-year career."

On coaching at UH:

"I've had (four) defensive coordinators. (Greg) McMackin was interesting. I learned a whole lot. That was my first year coaching. He let you coach. He was very hands off. He allowed you to grow as a coach. I loved his zone-dogging scheme. (Kevin) Lempa was much more detailed and meticulous, more anal. He was good to work for. When I worked for George (Lumpkin), there was more input."

On current UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville:

"Jerry's more — what's the word? — totalitarian, dictator-like. It's his defense. He dictates what you're going to coach and how you coach and how he wants you to coach. You kind of sit back and listen and realize he's your boss and listen to what he says, and try to construe that to your players. I've been fortunate. I've had (USC coach) Pete Carroll as defensive coordinator (with the Jets). I've had Bud Carson, Duane Akina, Bob Wagner. I've had Cal Lee (now UH's linebacker coach). I've had outstanding guys to work with."

On UH's defensive secondary:

"It starts with (senior free safety) Leonard Peters. Comparing him to an artist, he hasn't put it on canvas. He only played three quarters of a game last year. Did you see potential in that three quarters of a game? Yes, he showed incredible potential. Have we seen it in spring practice? It's amazing what he's capable of doing. But he hasn't done it (for a full season). Potential is a scary word. God forbid, if he should get hurt. If he can play for 12 games, he's going to be as good as anybody in the country. What he brings to the table is outstanding speed, toughness, leadership. When he was 'healthy,' he wasn't healthy. He had a separated shoulder two years ago. People got down on him for missing tackles and not being a big-time hitter. He wore a shoulder harness and had surgery after the season, but really should have never played. Looking at him, I don't think he's injury prone. Football is a game of injuries. It's Russian roulette. Sometimes you get injured consecutively. I don't think he has an injury bug. It's a case of bad luck."

On whether Brad Kalilimoku, who played linebacker last season, remains at strong safety:

"That decision is up to June and Jerry. I would like to see him play strong safety in the mode of (last year's starter) Lono Manners. He's an incredible physical talent. He benches 450 pounds. He runs 4.4 (seconds over 40 yards). He jumps out of the gym. There are some things he may be limited in, but it's not going to be against the run."

On cornerbacks C.J. Hawthorne, a junior college transfer, and A.J. Martinez, a converted safety and wideout:

"I'm very excited about C.J. Hawthorne. I've only had him for five or six practices (in the spring). We're looking forward to him. He's very polite. He's very coachable. He's a little thin, but he can run, and he can tackle. I think he has a tremendous upside. And A.J. is instinctively good. He's worked hard, and he's tough. He has that moxie. There's something about him. He has that confidence. He's tough enough. He's fast enough. He ran 4.4 for us. And he's strong enough. He can tackle."

On senior Kenny Patton, who is returning to cornerback after ending his experiment as a wideout in the spring:

"I've always been a fan of Kenny. He'll be the first to tell you he hasn't lived up to his potential, which is vast. He's a better athlete than Leonard Peters. He's the best athlete I've ever been around in terms of catching the ball, running, jumping, smarts, technique and everything else. You tend to get disappointed in guys when they don't live up to their potential. Last year, he was injured. He had a bad knee and a bad shoulder. Most guys wouldn't have played through that. They would have sat for a few games. I think Kenny wanted to prove to people he could play injured. In retrospect, maybe he should have sat for a few weeks and come out at full strength. Kenny is strong and fast and can jump as well as anybody in the country. We're all waiting for that to come out. I'm hoping because he's such a good person that nothing happens to that kid and he can prove he's the player I think he is, that he thinks he is, that potentially he could be."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.