Dennis Thurman

All-American. National Champion. College Football Hall of Famer. NFL veteran. Rainbow Warriors defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman has spent decades around the game, finding success at every level.

After a decorated collegiate career with the USC Trojans, Thurman was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and remarkably never missed a game during his entire NFL career. As a coach, he's worked with some of the sport's all-time greats, including Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Darrelle Revis, and Stephon Gilmore.

Now in his third season at UH, Thurman shares stories from his playing days, what separates Hall of Famers from everyone else, and how he's adapted his approach to coaching today's generation of athletes.

In "The Long Game" video podcast, Mark Carpenter sits down with influential figures across the Hawaii sports community. Whether it's going down memory lane with former athletes who've ascended to the heights of their craft or meeting rising up-and-comers eager to build their legacies, this series will dive into their careers and lessons learned while having fun along the way.