New athletics director sought for University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has opened the application period for a new athletics director to replace retiring David Matlin.

UH President David Lassner has appointed a seven-person search advisory committee to assist in the search for the successor to Matlin, who will retire on June 2, 2023 after completing an 8-year term.

The committee will be co-chaired by UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno and Susan Eichor, president and chief operating officer of the companies of aio, a diverse family of companies that is dedicated to living and promoting the unique values of Hawaiʻi.

“UH needs a leader who can advance the athletic success of our 21 intercollegiate sports at the same time we maximize the academic success of our 450 student athletes and ensure their physical and mental health and wellness,” Lassner said. “The successful candidate will display impeccable integrity in their work and the creativity to ensure the financial sustainability of the country’s most isolated Division I athletic program.

“Our next athletic director must have the insight and agility to lead through the most dynamic and challenging period in the history of NCAA intercollegiate athletics.”

The position is now publicly posted with instructions on how to apply at the search website: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/athletics. It is being nationally advertised.

For best consideration, applicants should submit their application materials by March 10, 2023. The committee will review all applications, determine which candidates should be interviewed and present Lassner with a short list of finalists.

Lassner expects to make a recommendation to the Board of Regents for consideration of approval at their May meeting.

In addition to Bruno and Eichor, the other committee members are:

• Laura Beeman, UH women’s basketball head coach
• Albert D.K. Chee, vice president of retail marketing & community relations for Island Energy and former chair, ʻAhahui Koa Ānuenue
• Sabrina McKenna, Hawaiʻi Supreme Court associate justice and former UH student athlete
• Scott Sinnett, UH Mānoa faculty athletics representative and professor of psychology
• Charlie Wade, UH men’s volleyball head coach

Facilitating the search as an ex-officio member of the committee is Debra Ishii, UH Mānoa search advisory committee support.

“We appreciate the amazing community support for UH Mānoa athletics and know there is wide interest in the position,” Lassner said. “We look forward to selecting a superb athletics director who will advance our Rainbow Wahine and Warrior programs for the entire state.”