Is McMackin’s Punishment Enough?

Coach Greg McMackin has seen better days

By now you may have heard of the University’s sanctions against Head Football Coach, Greg McMackin, for making inappropriate slurs during a WAC press conference.

   Coach McMackin used a derogatory slur in demeaning Notre Dame’s dance prior to their football game against Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. (Read the blog entry below for the full details).

   But did the University of Hawaii administration take the appropriate steps in disciplining their coach?

“We have completed the investigation with the cooperation of Coach McMackin. Because of violations of University policies, I have decided, with the approval of Chancellor Hinshaw, on the following actions:

* Coach McMackin will be suspended without pay for 30 days. However, Coach McMackin has agreed to volunteer to coach the team for those 30 days because he doesn’t want the team or the university to be harmed by his mistake.

* In addition, Coach McMackin will be voluntarily participating in the salary reduction at the same level as myself.

There are other steps we have discussed that Coach McMackin has agreed to accomplish so I’ll ask Chancellor Hinshaw to present those.” (UH)

Chancellor Hinshaw then detailed additional measures:
“We all recognize that yesterday Coach McMackin made a serious mistake that has hurt many people and brought negative attention to our State and our University. He is clearly remorseful – as well he should be. This has been a painful experience for all involved, but we must now consider actions that will help everyone learn from this very negative event and improve for the future.

Warrior (Rainbow?) coach

* Coach McMackin will personally participate in activities directed at improving the environment for our community through working with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community on campus. Camaron Miyamoto, coordinator for our LGBT services, has discussed with us how we can turn this into a learning experience for the whole campus.

* That will include Coach’s participating in a public service announcement describing how words can hurt, presenting during student orientations, and supporting awareness training for the athletics program.

* Also, a part of the money from his salary reduction will be used by the University to support a student intern for LGBT to assist in conducting campus-wide workshops in awareness training.

   I applaud UH’s quick and rapid dealing with McMackin’s inexcusable actions.   Public relations damage control was quick on this matter and the punishment seems to have fit the crime in this instance.

   But I believe the UH should have gone one step further by returning the proud “Rainbow” logo back to the Hawaii football team.

  It was the homophobic mentality by then coach, June Jones, and his staff that banished the Rainbow in favor of the Warrior symbol.

   UH should have acted to restore the Rainbow’s proud heritage to a football team and Coach McMackin, in order to redeem himself, should be the leader in insisting or its reinstatement.

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About

Wayne Joseph talks story with Harry Kim

Wayne Joseph is a retired public school teacher with over 30 years in the department of eduction. Joseph currently is the Executive Director of the Big Island Marathon, Chair of Big Island Federal Credit Union, Secretary for the Big Island Press Club, Vice President of HSTA-Retired and is a free lance sports writer for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

Past winner of the athlete of the month award, sports person of the year, WalMart teacher of the Year, Big Island Hall of Fame and numerous other awards.

This blog will feature stories from his “Running with the Big Dog” column that appears every Monday in the Tribune-Herald for over six years. It will also highlight some of the local sports stories that Joseph covers.

2009 State Track & Field Championship Videos

2008 HHSAA 1500m runner-up King Kekaulike SR Reid Hunter 4:03.98 breaks the Hawaii State Record, while Island SO Pierce Murphy 4:06.22 outkicks an impeding Punahou SR Lucas Lam 4:06.72 on the home stretch in the boys 1500m run at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Boys Track and Field Championship

Punahou SO Julia Brand 46.25 earns the gold, while Kamehameha HI SR Aubrey Lea Shaw 47.53 outpaces Punahou JR Jenna Louie 47.96 for the silver at the 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

2008 HHSAA 100m Hurdle Champ Kahuku SO Zhane Santiago 15.58 repeats, outpacing Castle SR Cecilia Durocher 16.07 and Lahainaluna SR Jordan Kilgore 16.09 at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

Ka’u JR Jacob Edwards 39.34 completes the hurdle double, outpacing Hilo SR Thomas Delacruz 39.93 in the Boys 300m Hurdle event at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championship

Ka’u Jr Jacob Edwards 49.53 edges Hilo SR Thomas Delacruz in the boys 300m hurdle event May 9 2009 at 2009 Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Track and Field Championship at Kea’au High School

Ka’u JR Jacob Edwards 14.93 earns the gold outpacing Hilo SR Thomas Delacruz 15.26 in the Boys 110 High Hurdles at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Track and Field Championships

Kamehameha SR Aubrey Lea Shaw 16.61 earns the crown edging teammate Kamehameha SR Cheray Brzezowski 16.77 in the girls 100 meter hurdle event at 2009 BIIF Track and Field Championship

Ka’u JR Jacob Edwards 14.94 breaks the BIIF record in the boys 110m High Hurdles, followed closely by Hilo SR Thomas Delacruz 15.33

Radford SO Andrea Hinkle 26.24 outpaces Kamehameha Oahu SR Hailey Kauhane 26.47 in the girls 200m at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

A young Radford Girls team 49.72 outpaces Kamehameha Oahu 49.73 for the gold in the girls 4×100 meter relay event at the 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

Radford SO Andrea Hinkle 26.24 outpaces Kamehameha Oahu SR Hailey Kauhane 26.47 in the girls 200m at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

Punahou 42.62 edges Campbell 42.81 in the Boys 4x100m Relay event at the 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championship

Kamehameha Oahu SR Ashlee Jimenez 57.82 defeats 2008 HHSAA 400m Champ Seabury SO Kailea Tracy-Visintainer 59.70 in the girls 400m dash at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

Hawaii Prep JR Ku’uipo Nakoa launches her gold medal winning 17-11.50 LJ in the finals at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

Damien JR Jonathan Padron10.97 outsprints Waialua SR Justing Lopez 11.25 at the 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Boys Track and Field Championship

Punahou JR Ashley Satterwhite 12.63 outsprints Kauai SR Kathleen Cadiente at the 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Track and Field Championship

Ka’u JR Jacob Edwards 39.34 completes the hurdle double, outpacing Hilo SR Thomas Delacruz 39.93 in the Boys 300m Hurdle event at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championship

Ka’u JR Jacob Edwards 14.93 earns the gold outpacing Hilo SR Thomas Delacruz 15.26 in the Boys 110 High Hurdles at 2009 Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Track and Field Championships

Videos from youtube user kautech