Sloss Steps Down from UHH Tennis Program

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo will have to fill another void in its coaching ranks.

UH-Hilo announced that Karl Sloss is stepping down from the school’s tennis program after less than two full years on the job. The university said that Sloss is leaving to pursue “his certification as a registered dietician.”

“While his time with the Vulcans athletic program has been relatively short, his contributions and efforts to provide opportunities for student/athletes have not gone unnoticed,” said UH-Hilo Interim Athletic Director Tim Moore in a statement. “After playing short-handed in his first season, his recruiting efforts provided a full team this past, and coming, season.”

Sloss led both the men’s and women’s programs at UH-Hilo, similar to the job of Director of Soccer Lance Thompson, who led both the men’s and women’s teams.

At the time of his hiring, Sloss said in a university-written press release that “it’s going to be at least a year or two to build both teams in order to be competitive with the top teams in the country.”

UH-Hilo’s women’s team went 4-26 in two years under Sloss. The men’s squad went 2-33.

In a release, the UH-Hilo athletic department says that a search is underway to find Sloss’ replacement. Moore was unable to be reached for an explanation on the timetable to hire the next coach.

Two other coaching positions have still gone unfilled at UH-Hilo. Moore has yet to announce hires for its baseball and softball programs. Earlier this month, Moore told Big Island Now that a hire could be announced “within a matter of perhaps 3-4 weeks.”

Softball coach Jaime Wallin stepped down from the program to accept a non-coaching job on the mainland. Meanwhile, baseball was led by Kallen Miyataki last seen on an interim basis. Miyataki told Big Island Now that he applied for the permanent coaching position.