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Timmy Chang Revives Hawaii Rainbow Warriors as Head Coach
By James Moreau | 21 Jun, 2025
The quarterback who broke college passing records now leads his alma mater’s football program toward a new era of success.
As a young man Timmy Chang put the University of Hawaii football on the map with an NCAA record-setting career as a quarterback. In 2022 he returned to the Rainbow Warriors as head coach with the goal of restoring the team’s unique identity.
From 2000 to 2004 Chang put himself into the record books with 17,072 career passing yards, a record that stood until 2011. His dynamic run-and-gun playing style helped Chang complete 117 touchdown passes, putting him behind only Ty Detmer at the time. In 2002, his best season, Chang led Hawaii to a 10-4 record, throwing for over 4,400 yards and lifting the Warriors to 24th in the Coaches poll.
Throwing for 4,000 yards in each of three seasons made Chang a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2004. He was also two-time Hawaii Bowl MVP in 2003 and 2004, and a four-time All-WAC selection. His best single-game performances include throwing for 534 yards against Louisiana Tech in 2003 and six touchdown passes against Idaho in 2004.
Chang’s collegiate success earned him stints in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. Yet he failed to make a final roster and never played a regular season game though he did see pro action in the Canadian Football League and NFL Europe from 2006 to 2008.
Timmy Chang began his coaching career in 2012 at SMU as a graduate assistant before serving in a variety of assistant coaching roles from 2014 to 2021 at Jackson State, Emory & Henry, and the University of Nevada.
In January 2022 Chang signed a 4-year contract with the Rainbow Warriors for $2.5 million plus incentive bonuses. As head coach Chang’s record has been 3-10 in 2022, 5-8 in 2023, and 5-7 in 2024. His biggest coaching challenge has been recruiting talent, averaging out to 118th place nationally, and worse if transfers out are included.
UH’s recruiting efforts are hurt by conference realignment, a remote location that subjects recruits to exhausting travel from hometowns as well as to regular season games, and the lack of financial resources. Yet Chang’s winning percentage is trending in the right direction and a new stadium set to open in 2028 may help inspire a new era for Hawaii football. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 44-year-old Chang attended Saint Louis School, a powerhouse in Hawaiian high school football. During his high school career, he completed 464 passes for 8,001 yards and 113 touchdowns. The institution later produced Heisman-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota and Pro Bowl quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Timmy Chang is primarily of Chinese descent blended with Caucasian, Polynesian, Japanese, and Filipino heritages.
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