Dennis McKnight, who is as animated as he is innovative, will be rejoining the University of Hawai'i football coaching staff as a graduate assistant this season, UH coach June Jones confirmed yesterday.

"We've been talking about this for the last two, three years," Jones said, adding McKnight's duties include assisting with the offensive line and special teams. "I'm excited about him rejoining us. Dennis is one of the best coaches I've ever had. He does a great job. He did a great job for me for two years."

McKnight, 46, who played 11 seasons in the National Football League, served as the Warriors' special teams coach in 1999 and 2000. He left after the 2000 season to spend more time with his family in San Diego and oversee his car-cleaning business.

Last season, McKnight was an assistant coach at San Diego State. He was not retained when the Aztecs changed head coaches at the end of last season.

Last March, McKnight applied for the UH coaching job vacated when defensive line coach Vantz Singletary resigned to accept a similar position at Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jeff Reinebold, who was a UH graduate assistant last season, replaced Singletary.

McKnight was invited to attend the Warriors' spring practice in April. UH officials and McKnight had discussed several options that would allow him to return.

McKnight, who is on a motorcycle trip, could not be reached for comment. But two weeks ago, he told The Advertiser he would arrive in Hawai'i this Sunday. The Warriors open training camp Aug. 4.

Soon after being hired as UH head coach in December 1998, Jones called McKnight, who played for Jones with the Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers.

McKnight had an immediate — and loud — impact on the Warriors. He literally lived at UH, sleeping on the leather couch in his third-floor office.

He also made special teams, well, special. Players who excelled on special teams received "Special Forces" T-shirts. He also enlivened practices with his high-decibel instructions.

"I've got to give a lot of credit to McKnight," said Keith Bhonapha, a former UH player and graduate-assistant coach. "He can get you excited about going to a meeting in the morning. He made you feel you were important if you played special teams. That's why everybody was so hungry to play for him. If we did well, we would get stickers. He'd get you excited about that. You're talking about a piece of plastic with adhesive. But it gave you something to work for, something to take pride in. The T-shirts were just like a trophy. You know you earned it."

McKnight also is a successful recruiter. He was the pointman in recruiting linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, an all-conference player with UH who now starts for the St. Louis Rams. He also was influential in recruiting Mat McBriar, now a punter with the Dallas Cowboys.

DANCE STUDIOS HOME FOR WARRIORS DURING CAMP

Once again, the Warriors have reservations at the "University Hilton" — the two dance studios on the second floor of the UH athletic complex — for the two weeks of football training camp.

In Jones' first five years as UH head coach, the Warriors stayed in an on-campus dormitory during training camp. Because of dormitory renovations, the Warriors were housed in the dance studios in 2004 and last summer.

Although there is ample dormitory space this year, Jones opted to return to the dance studios "to save money. (UH officials) charge us a lot of money to go up there (and live in the dorms). We're saving money by staying in the studios."

The 105 players will sleep on cots in the dance studios. Showers and bathrooms are available nearby in the football locker room.

"It's worked out good," Jones said.

Starting left slotback Davone Bess said: "It's fine. I'm not trippin'. I'm OK as long as I have a place to lay my head."

STUART CHANG LEAVES UH TO JOIN KCCN

Stuart Chang is resigning as the UH athletic department's corporate sales director to become the general sales manager at KCCN FM 100.

"It was a great opportunity for me and my family," said Chang, 46, of his new job. "I've always had a love for broadcast (and) I'll always have a love for the green and white."

Chang was hired in April to oversee UH's Corporate Partner Program. The job description said he had "responsibilities in marketing, advertising, promotions and ticket sales."

In February, Chang was one of several senior managers who resigned in protest after KHON-2 was sold to Montecito Broadcast Group.

He previously worked at KHNL/KFVE as a senior sales and marketing executive and general sales manager.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.