Former teammates now face each other as coaches in Hawaii Bowl

It will be a full circle moment for the two coaches in the 2025 Hawai’i Bowl.

Hawai’i and California will square off at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu on Wednesday, Dec. 24. It’s not only a familiar place for the Rainbow Warriors – playing in their home stadium – but for the coach of the Golden Bears.

Interim Cal coach Nick Rolovich used to call it home as a former Hawai’i quarterback. What’s even crazier is another quarterback on the roster was Timmy Chang, now the coach of the Rainbow Warriors. They have gone from former teammates to now coaching against each other in a special moment for both sides.

‘You probably couldn’t have written this a few years back,’ Rolovich said on Monday, Dec. 22.

How long were Nick Rolovich and Timmy Chang teammates?

Rolovich and Chang were teammates at Hawai’i for two seasons, 2000 and 2001. Chang was a freshman in 2000 and Rolovich was a junior after transferring from City College of San Francisco.

Both quarterbacks played in 2000 before Rolovich became the starter in 2001. After Rolovich left, Chang became the starting quarterback from 2002-04.

Nick Rolovich Hawai’i stats

After playing in just four games in 2000, Rolovich took over the starting duties in the middle of the 2001 season. He played in 10 games threw for 3,361 yards with 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions, leading Hawai’i to a 9-3 record that included ranked wins over Fresno State and Brigham Young.

In 14 career games, Rolovich had 4,176 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Timmy Chang Hawai’i stats

Chang was the primary starter in 2000, playing in 10 games but appeared in just three contests in 2001 as Rolovich took over.

Chang became the starter in 2002 after Rolovich departed. He went on to have a magical career for the Rainbow Warriors, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and at least 25 touchdowns in each season from 2002-04. He led Hawai’i to a 10-win season in 2022, nine in 2003 and eight in 2004 with three consecutive trips to the Hawai’i Bowl. He led his team to bowl victories in 2003 and 2004 and he was named Hawai’i Bowl Most Valuable Player in both games.

He finished his playing career setting the NCAA record for career passing yards (17,072), touchdowns (117) and completions (1,388). All of those records have been broken, but he still holds the all-time mark for total plays (2,587), passes attempted (2,436) and interceptions (80).

What Nick Rolovich, Timmy Chang said about coaching against each other

The Hawai’i Bowl is already special for Rolovich, as he’s a former Rainbow Warriors coach. But going against a former teammate has given it a deeper meaning.

‘On Wednesday, we will play in the same spot on this island where I first remember throwing with Timmy when he came in as a freshman. The old Cooke Field, the old turf, right in front of the offices, with all the boys in the summertime,’ Rolovich said. ‘I think that makes it even more special that the game’s not only played in Hawai’i, but played kind of right there in that spot.’

Rolovich gave praise to Chang for getting Hawai’i back in a bowl game for the first time in his four-year tenure.

‘I don’t think at that time we thought about coaching against each other,’ he added. ‘I don’t think we could have written that. But when this game grabs you and infects you and gives you that disease, it’s hard to break away, even if you want to. And I think Timmy’s had a grind. I’ve had a grind to get to this point, and it’s just it’s hard to believe that it’s happening. But it is very special for at least me and him and all the boys that played at UH together.’

Chang returned the praised to Rolovich as there were ‘so many things that I learned’ from his teammate. They had a close bond during their playing careers.

‘We went from being roommates on the road and being friends, to now where we are today in our careers. I mean, it’s truly humbling to be in this bowl game. It’s just kids at 18 to 20, 21, years old who came together and now look at us here,’ Chang said. ‘Thank you for the Hawai’i Bowl for bringing us together and being able to share the field like this.’

Cal and Hawai’i will kick off from Honolulu at 8 p.m. ET (3 p.m. HT).