Timmy Chang reflects on his special relationship with Jay Norvell, his time at CSU, and the decision to return home to Hawaii

LAS VEGAS — Timmy Chang was in the process of shopping for a home in Northern Colorado when he found out that his alma mater, the University of Hawaii, was in need of a new head coach. 

On January 14, 2022, following a mass exodus of players via the transfer portal and complaints of a toxic culture, Todd Graham resigned from his role, leaving Hawaii in a position where it needed to find a new leader extremely late in the hiring cycle. 

Chang, who had initially come over from the University of Nevada to coach wide receivers under Jay Norvell, had just helped the Rams solidify a solid 2022 signing class and was embracing his new role in Fort Collins. 

“As we left Nevada, there were about eight days in the recruiting calendar left, so we went and hit the ground running,” Chang told DNVR. 

In total the Rams ended up signing 22 players in the early recruiting period, most of which were on the offensive side of the ball. 12 of those signees were former UNR players, guys that Chang helped develop. 

Widely viewed as a rising star in the coaching ranks, and an extremely personable individual, Chang talked a little bit about his relationships with the former Nevada guys and how it was validating that they wanted to continue to play for the staff after leaving for another school in the Mountain West. 

“You know they trust you, they believe in you,” Chang said. “They know that you are going to get them where they want to be school wise, football wise, professionally, they know you can help develop them. So, that was humbling. And I mean, Colorado State, they got some good receivers, we did a great job. Those are my guys and I love them.”

That ability to connect with people, in addition to having a sound football mind, is why Norvell always knew that Chang had a bright future in this business. In a one-on-one conversation at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Norvell, with a smile on his face, explained that the former star QB is a tremendous leader and that players absolutely love him. And that’s why when Norvell found out late-night that the Warriors were in search of a new HC, the next morning he was on the phone with Hawaii’s athletic director emphasizing how Chang has shown he has the right demeanor for the gig.

“I just told him, he couldn’t hire a better coach than Timmy Chang. I pushed hard to get him that job anyway that I could.”

“As a coach, you really gain a lot of satisfaction from your own coaches getting opportunities,” Norvell continued. I’ve had a lot of guys move on. In my five years as a head coach though, Timmy is the first guy to become a head coach. I hope there’s more.” 

For Chang, the decision to return to his home state and lead the program that he once starred for on the gridiron was a no-brainer. Coaches can work as an assistant for years, even decades without getting an opportunity to be the head man. He talked the situation through with Norvell, his boss for the last half decade, and Norvell was emphatic that Chang needed to take the job. 

On Jan. 24, Chang was officially hired as the head coach of the Hawaii Warriors football program and welcomed back with open arms by the local community. The same community that Chang inspired at the start of the century by throwing for north of 17,000 yards and 117 touchdowns between 2000-04. 

“I’m from there, played my high school ball there, I had opportunities to go to a lot of different schools and chose to stay home to represent my community and my state,” Chang said. “Now, 22 years later, I think about the decision I made then and why I made it, it’s the reason why we’re here now. I didn’t know I was gonna be the head coach, but I knew that I wanted to live in Hawaii eventually. And so here I am. It’s amazing, it’s humbling, and I’m really grateful.”

Although Chang is completely locked in on the future ahead and helping restore glory to his beloved school, Ram fans should know that they made a strong impression on him during his short tenure with the Green & Gold. Chang expressed his appreciation for the fanbase and how badly the community wants the team to win. He also had high praise for the other athletic programs on campus, the facilities and the environment as a whole. He said that while he did not get a chance to bring his family to Fort Collins this past winter, everyone was very excited to be part of the community and to help build the program at CSU. 

He will be on the opposite sideline, but Chang will return to Canvas Stadium on October 22, when CSU hosts Hawaii in the third conference game on the slate. 

“It’s gonna be wild,” Chang said with a grin. “But it’s gonna be good. When you talk about mentors and people that you have in your corner, Jay is one of them. And in the five years that I’ve been with him in the fire, helping him rebuild the Nevada program — to where we are now — it’s amazing.”

“I love all of the guys on that staff,” Chang continued. “The relationship you build is unique. For three hours we’re gonna have to go at it, but after that you always love them.” 

Time will tell whether Chang is able to make Hawaii a contender once again. Based on the amount of talent that comes from that state though, and what Norvell as well as other coaches around the MWC have to say about Chang’s coaching abilities, it seems foolish to bet against him. He’s the perfect individual to sell that school to high school recruits, particularly prospects from Hawaii, because he is a living example of the benefits of staying home and repping the island.

“For me, personally, playing for the state as well as being a hometown guy, it kinda doubles your value,” Chang said. “I sell this in recruiting, in four or five years, football is not promised after that. And so when you stay home for the state, the state should take care of you. And they do. They know you, they know you are, you’re a hometown kid. Hawaii is so rich in talent. So, you know, if high-level players at all positions can get to the NFL from Hawaii, then why not?”

For the guys that do not make it to the league though, or maybe don’t last as a professional, the benefits of having the local connections are endless.

“I’m putting you in front of CEOs or business and union leaders. And so just the whole overall perspective of, if you want to live here, you should stay home and play.”

Football fans can watch Chang’s debut as a HC on August 27, when the Warriors host Vanderbilt in a Week 0 matchup. Maybe Chang can bring a little peace to CSU fans by upsetting the Vandals just one year after they came into FoCo and took down the Rams. Regardless of how that game plays out though, or really any game this season, it’s clear that the Warriors made the right call in bringing Chang back home.