Recruiting is barely pau and spring practice hasn't started but two months into his head football coaching tenure at the University of Hawai'i, the read on Greg McMackin is that he'll brook no nonsense on the field — or off.

Monday he announced, through a spokesman, that senior cornerback Keenan Jones "will be suspended indefinitely until the formal investigation is completed" into charges of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree assault, both felonies.

This follows a 40-day suspension dealt quarterback Tyler Graunke for breaking team-related rules.

Two isolated instances in a program that has overwhelmingly put a positive face on the school and the state, to be sure, but also apparently illustrative of discipline we can expect from McMackin.

The third-down-and-short-yardage decisions, coaches will tell you, are the easy ones. The ones involving off-the-field problems more challenging. Especially when involving players who can make a difference in games.

That's why it is gratifying to see McMackin set a strong early tone for his administration.

As a defensive coordinator and head coach he's preached teamwork, responsibility and discipline to his players and his actions in these cases speak to that. They underline that players who wear the UH colors have a responsibility not to embarrass themselves, the team or their school. It is a point that McMackin insists upon.

June Jones, McMackin's predecessor, gained a well-deserved reputation as a granter of second-chances to the mutual benefit of both UH and the players. But, then, UH was selective in who it granted them to and was rarely burned. Keenan Jones, who came into UH under June Jones, may be the exception.

Enter McMackin, a veteran of 40 years of coaching with his own ideas on discipline. The allegations against Keenan Jones, especially in light of two pending trial dates for separate misdemeanor abuse of a household member, suggest a disturbing pattern, if true. And they demanded action.

Faced with such charges some coaches would punt. McMackin addressed the situation as soon as the police reports hit his desk. Just as he took swift action in Graunke's case.

Five months before his first season opener, we already have an encouraging read on a head coach running a taut ship.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.