HONOLULU — University of Hawai’i assistant football coach Mike Cavanaugh has accepted a position at Oregon State, Warrior head coach June Jones announced yesterday. Cavanaugh, UH’s offensive line coach for the past six seasons, will hold the same capacity under
HONOLULU — University of Hawai’i assistant football coach Mike Cavanaugh has accepted a position at Oregon State, Warrior head coach June Jones announced yesterday. Cavanaugh, UH’s offensive line coach for the past six seasons, will hold the same capacity under OSU skipper Mike Riley.
“I’m excited for him,” Jones said. “In this business, you get an opportunity to upgrade yourself and your family and he has the opportunity to do that with this offer. He has done a great job and I’m very appreciative for what he has been able to accomplish here, but he has to do what’s best for his family so I’m happy for him.” Cavanaugh is one of the original members of Jones’ staff that took over in 1999. The decision was not an easy one for the animated Cavanaugh who has mentored five NFL Draft picks since his arrival. “Obviously every decision like this is tough,” Cavanaugh said. “My players are like my family and they factor into the heart of the decision just like my wife and kids. It was hard to talk to those guys, but I think it’s a great opportunity for my professional career and for my family.”
Cavanaugh, who has aspirations of coaching in the NFL one day, interviewed for an opening with the Cleveland Browns a few weeks ago, but the job was offered to another candidate. The Oregon State opportunity appeared immediately afterwards.
“They contacted me and everything happened kind of out of the blue,” Cavanaugh said. “Mike Riley is a great football coach and they have an awesome staff up there, so I’m looking forward to working with them.” The 42-year-old arrived on the Manoa campus in January 1999 and has since been one of the most prolific coaches on the Warrior staff. Former Warriors and NFL Draft picks Adrian Klemm, Kaulana Noa, Kynan Forney, Vince Manuwai and Wayne Hunter are all proof of that.
In his first season, Cavanaugh inherited an offensive line that concentrated mostly on run blocking. Less than a year later, the Warrior offense finished third in the nation in passing, 20th in total offense, and won nine games, including a 23-17 win over Oregon State in the Jeep Oahu Bowl.
Through the years, Cavanaugh’s offensive line has protected Warrior quarterbacks like no other passing team in the nation, allowing one sack every 26 pass attempts, including the 2000 season when the Warriors gave up just 10 sacks in 609 pass attempts. This is one of the biggest reasons Cavanaugh has built the foundation for Hawai`i to become a mecca for future offensive linemen. Cavanaugh made his coaching debut as a graduate assistant at Albany in 1986.
