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The University of Hawaii on Wednesday announced a 10-member advisory committee in addition to a national firm to aid its search for a new Manoa athletic director.
UH President Wendy Hensel has said she wants the permanent replacement for Craig Angelos to be in place in the summer, and UH’s latest timetable would appear to hold to that; UH said in a news release that it plans to conduct finalist interviews in late May and announce the hire by “mid to late summer.”
Hensel acknowledged in a statement in Wednesday’s release that “we are working under a tight timeline.” As was the case for former president David Lassner with Angelos, Hensel will make the final decision on the hire.
UH revealed it has tapped Parker Executive Search, a national firm based in Atlanta, to help produce candidates.
“As Hawaii’s only NCAA Division I program, UH Manoa athletics plays a crucial role in our state’s sports culture and economy,” Hensel said in a statement. “We need an athletics director who is not only a strategic and dynamic leader but also a strong fundraiser who can navigate the many challenges ahead, including the lack of a Division I football stadium.”
The group of local committee members is comprised of six men and four women, co-chaired by UH Board of Regents chair Gabe Lee and Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation chair Jack Tsui.
The other members are: Peter Ho, chairman and CEO of Bank of Hawaii; Tita Ahuna, Punahou School athletic director and former UH women’s volleyball player; Artie Wilson, Spectrum Sports men’s basketball analyst and former player; Michele Nagamine, UH women’s soccer coach; Susan Eichor, president and COO of AIO; James Tokioka, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Scott Sinnett, UH Manoa faculty athletic representative; and Leslie Campaniano, chair of Ahahui Koa Anuenue.
They are “tasked with identifying candidates to guide the program through a rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape,” according to the release.
Hensel added that she will turn to the “support and unique insight” of Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi throughout the search.
I am excited to take this next step in the process, knowing how important this role is not only to UH Athletics but to the state as a whole. If all goes according to plan, we will have a new AD by August, if not sooner.
Parker Executive Search says on its website that it strives to complete sports executive searches within four to five weeks.
Per UH, the firm will conduct “listening sessions” to gather community input in March and April to help develop its profile of the ideal candidate.
“The search for a sports executive or coach is high-profile and high-stakes, necessitating both sensitivity and expediency,” the company posted on its site, and mentions it uses a database with “detailed statistics” to find the right fit for the client.
Per UH, an ex officio group of UH students will be tapped to meet with finalists to have a say on the final selection.
Lois Manin has filled in as acting athletic director since Dec. 1, a handful of days after Lassner terminated Angelos in late November. Her biggest moves to date have been contract extensions for football coach Timmy Chang and women’s volleyball coach Robyn Ah Mow.
“We are committed to a thorough, effective, and transparent process to ensure we secure the best possible leader for UH athletics," Hensel said. “There is tremendous interest in this position, and we recognize that the next AD is important not only to the university, but also to our fans and community stakeholders.”
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.
