He was the head coach at several colleges including Hawaii, Arizona, and San Jose State. He was also an assistant coach at UCLA and Texas.
Star-Advertiser archives
Dick Tomey when he was coaching at Hawaii
As a person from Hawaii, much of this blog post will be from that perspective.
He came to UH back in 1977 when the team was going through some struggles. The previous coach Larry Price (later known as a radio host) quit, and many players considered transferring to other schools. Other coaches contacted to take the position refused. Many people thought Tomey was crazy to step down from his assistant position at UCLA to take over a struggling UH team.
UH didn't struggle for much longer. It was a beginning of the glory years at UH when the defenses became top-ranked, and the stadium became the place to be. This era had the biggest crowds that Aloha Stadium has ever seen.
It was also a time when many future NFL players were on the team including Jesse Sapolu, Mark Tuinei, Rich Miano, and the Noga brothers (Niko, Al). This inspired the top local players to play for the home team, as well as inspired players from elsewhere to join the fun in Hawaii.
Sadly, all great things come to an end. In 1986, Tomey accepted a higher paying job at the University of Arizona, where he stayed until 2000. Tomey's defense there became known as the Desert Swarm, coinciding with the era when the US had its first war with Iraq.
Tomey's Desert Swarm came to Hawaii in 1998 to give UH its first loss of its winless season that year. 🤮
Star-Bulletin
Dick Tomey (then coaching for Arizona) talking to UH coach Fred von Appen after the game in1998. This was UH's 1st loss of what will be its winless season.
Tomey later came back to Hawaii as an opponent when he was coaching the San Jose State Spartans back in 2005-2009.
Star-Advertiser
Dick Tomey (coaching for San Jose State) being consoled by UH coach June Jones after losing to the home team in 2006.
Even with all these years as UH's opponents, Hawaii was always a part of Tomey's heart. In 2002, he teamed up with Jim Leahy to do the TV sportscasts for the UH football games. And in 2011, Tomey was back coaching at UH, this time as an assistant with Coach Mack (Gregg McMackin). 🎉
Sadly, the entire Mack's team were fired at the end of the season, to be replaced by the over-rated Norm Chow. 🤮
That was the last time Dick Tomey coached!
He was well loved in Hawaii not only for his football success but also his respect for the Hawaiian culture. Outsiders (especially those of European ancestry) have to work twice as hard to earn the respect here. Dick Tomey has earned that respect.
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Dick Tomey wrote a book about his experience as a UH football coach. The book is titled " Rise of the Rainbow Warriors".
online shoppers can buy it here straight from the publisher
https://www.bookshawaii.net/books/sports/rise-of-the-rainbow-warriors.html
Watermark Publishing
"Rise of the Rainbow Warriors" by Dick Tomey
To learn more about Dick Tomey's legacy in Hawaii, check out these following articles
Ferd Lewis, “Dick Tomey, Trail-Blazing Football Coach at the University of Hawaii, Dies at 80,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 11, 2019,
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/05/11/sports/sports-breaking/dick-tomey-trail-blazing-football-coach-at-the-university-of-hawaii-dies-at-80/
Ferd Lewis, “Former University of Hawaii Football Coach Dick Tomey Lived Aloha,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 12, 2019,
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/05/12/sports/former-university-of-hawaii-football-coach-dick-tomey-lived-aloha/
David McCracken, “Hawaii Football ‘Ohana Reacts to Dick Tomey’s Death,” Hawaii News Now, May 11, 2019,
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/05/11/hawaii-football-ohana-reacts-dick-tomeys-death/
Dave Reardon, “Dick Tomey Was a Coach, and Not Just of Football Players,” Hawaii Warrior World, May 11, 2019,
https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/football/tomey-was-a-coach-and-not-just-of-football-players/?fbclid=IwAR2lDu7Zxp4jDal5FAtRTq8geIsiVwSZG09zeBW9n3q6ghnkSVpnR84x08U
