Prior to his University of Hawaii debut, defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman isn't shy about what he expects out of his unit.
“Perfection," Thurman said at the end of fall camp. "I’ll get it one day. I ask every team I’ve ever coached, give me perfection to the best of your ability. Are they going to be that? I don’t know. We’ll find out on Saturday.”
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Hawaii's 2024 season begins on Saturday against Delaware State, officially marking the latest stop in Thurman's robust football journey.
Thurman coached 14 years in the NFL, spending two each as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
Prior to his time at Hawaii, Thurman spent three years coaching under Deion Sanders: Three seasons as Jackson State's defensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022, as well as defensive quality control at Colorado in 2023. He was hired by UH head coach Timmy Chang in January.
“It’s not like I haven’t been over here before, I’ve been here quite a bit. It hasn’t changed. It’s a beautiful place," Thurman said of his time in the islands. "The people have been nice, the kids have been wonderful. The young men have been wonderful, easy to work with. It can be tough at times because some things that I’m trying to get them to understand are more NFL type stuff, so I have to catch myself at times and recognize I’m not working with NFL guys, I’m working with college young men who have school, who have other things they have to deal with. My patience has to grow, has to increase, and it will.”
Patience is what Thurman describes as the biggest difference between coaching in the pros and coaching at the collegiate level, where he's a DC at the FBS level for the first time with the Rainbow Warriors.
"Pro guys, you coach them and you can have them all day," he said. "With these guys, they have so many other things that they’re dealing with and they have to do that you don’t have the time at the college level that you do at the NFL level. It’s about being patient.”
Despite being guarded about what he plans to run schematically with the 'Bows, Hawaii's defense in scrimmages has shown to be one that will mix multiple fronts and coverages under the guidance of Thurman.
Hawaii's defense in 2024 is an extension an experienced roster featuring standouts in the secondary in Peter Manuma and Cam Stone, as well as the return of Logan Taylor at linebacker. Nevada transfer Dion Washington has stood out on the interior defensive line, while defensive end Elijah Robinson hopes to make the most of another year of college ball after getting cleared for an additional season of eligibility.
“Toughness," Thurman said when asked what stands out the most about his group. "There’s a toughness about them, a culture here that is undeniable and to not buy into it, you’re making a mistake. We’re there in terms of the culture, the toughness. It’s just the execution and discipline, the details, if we get those, we’ll be fine.”