HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii introduced Greg McMackin as the Warriors new head coach on Wednesday morning.

The team's defensive coordinator succeeds June Jones, who accepted the head job at Southern Methodist University last week.

"I am honored and very humbled to accept the head coaching position at the University of Hawai‘i," McMackin said. "June Jones can never be replaced. He has done so many great things for the program, the university and the state of Hawai‘i and his legacy will never be forgotten. My destiny is to keep the program headed in that same direction and to maintain the continuity with our current players and recruiting base."

The UH offer includes a salary of $1.1 million a year for five years. It is a $1 million pay increase for McMackin.

Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw defended making McMackin the state's highest-paid employee.

"That is the market that we exist in the WAC conference. So, we have to look at those issues as well, but I think you have got to realize other values athletics brings to the community and state. This is the state's team," Hinshaw said.

It is the first head coaching job for him at the college level.

He pointed out that one of his first coaching jobs was at Aloha High School in Beaverton, Ore., for the Warriors. He commented that he has gone from coaching the Warriors to coaching the Warriors.

McMackin had widespread support among the assistant coaches, players and boosters and brings stability to the program that was thrown into disarray just days after the greatest season in university history.

The team was the only Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division IA) to go undefeated, 12-0. The Warriors lost to Georgia in the Bowl Championship Series Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

McMackin was the defensive coordinator twice under Jones. Both times McMackin helped to lead Hawaii to a Western Athletic Conference title. McMackin brings almost 40 years of experience with 10 different colleges and three professional teams.

McMackin will start to name his assistants. Sources told KITV that former Warriors like Nick Rolovich and Brian Smith will be invited to join the staff.

Facilities, Other Concerns

One of the issues that Jones brought up before he left UH was the conditions of the athletics facilities.

McMackin said the school assured him that the conditions would be addressed.

"Certainly we're looking at the assistant coaches salaries, looking at returfing Cooke Field, redoing the offices. We want to move quickly to get some of those things done now, and we need help," Hinshaw said.

There is no word yet on how much of the money will be from private donations or taxpayer dollars.

The school is finding that success can pay for itself. After expenses, Hawaii will clear approximately $3 million from the Warriors' appearance in the Sugar Bowl, UH officials said.