UH interviews Wagner

AD search committee has interviewed 5

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Former University of Hawaii football coach Bob Wagner is among five people interviewed to be the UH athletic director, knowledgeable sources told the Star-Bulletin yesterday.

Wagner, who acknowledged applying for the job two weeks ago, declined comment.

Wagner joins Carl Clapp (interim AD), Jim Donovan, Rockne Freitas and Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano as applicants who have been interviewed.

UH-Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw heads the search committee. When a candidate is chosen, his or her name will be sent to the Board of Regents for approval.

Wagner's interview shows much can change in 13 years. In 1995, he was fired as UH football coach.

Wagner, now 60, continued coaching, with stops as an assistant at Arizona and Texas-El Paso. In 2002, he returned to the islands to be the athletic director at Kamehameha-Hawaii.

Wagner, who came to UH in 1977, rose to defensive coordinator under Dick Tomey and became head coach in 1987. He compiled a 58-49-3 record, including a Holiday Bowl victory and historic wins against BYU. But he was let go at the end of a 4-8 season in 1995.

Meanwhile, a report from the San Jose Mercury News last night said Tomey was approached by Hinshaw, but Tomey will remain the football coach at San Jose State.

UH AD search committee has interviewed 5

Five candidates have been interviewed to become University of Hawaii athletic director.

All five have worked in the UH athletic department, four as administrators, one (Bob Wagner) as a high-profile coach.

Two (Jim Donovan and Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano) are former UH athletes.

When the search committee makes a selection, it will be forwarded to the Board of Regents for approval.

Here is more biographical information on the interviewees:

CARL CLAPP

Current job: University of Hawaii interim athletic director (since January 2008)
Other positions: UH associate athletic director (2006-08), Saint Mary's (Calif.) athletic director (2000-06), Redlands athletic director (1995-2000), Midlands Collegiate Conference commissioner (1994-95)
Education: Bachelor's, physical education and psychology, UC Santa Barbara, (1981); Master's, exercise and sports science, Arizona (1985).
Born: 1958, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Family: Married, four children
Athletic background: Played wide receiver at Santa Barbara Community College.
Other notable: Served as assistant football coach at five colleges.

JIM DONOVAN

Current job: Sheraton Hawaii Bowl executive director (since 2002).
Other positions: UH assistant and associate athletic director (1993-2002), UH sports marketing director (1988-1993), Rainbow Stadium manager (1985-1988).
Education: Bachelor's, geography, Hawaii; Master's business administration, UH.
Born: 1959, Houston (raised in Anaheim, Calif.)
Family: Married, two children
Athletic background: Honorable mention All-WAC as UH offensive lineman (1981-82), previously all-conference at Santa Ana (Calif.) College and team MVP at Servite High School (Anaheim, Calif.).
Other notable: President of own marketing and consulting company, m2c, Inc.

ROCKNE FREITAS

Current job: Chancellor, Hawaii Community College, Hilo (since 2004)
Other positions: UH vice president, University Relations; UH associate athletic director; vice president and executive director, Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation; trustee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; vice president, Kamehameha Schools; head of GRG Enterprises Inc., a fishing supply company formerly based at Kewalo Basin
Education: Bachelor's, animal science, Oregon State; Master's, education, UH; Ph.D, education, UH
Born: 1945, Kailua
Family: Married, two children
Athletic background: All-Pro offensive tackle with Detroit Lions (1968-1977), also played for Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978). Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers (1967) after college at Oregon State (1963-66). Multi-sport star at Kamehameha.
Other notable: Inductee in Hawaii and Oregon State sports halls of fame.

MARILYN MONIZ-KAHO'OHANOHANO

Current job: UH associate athletic director/senior woman administrator (1989-present)
Other positions: Maui County Parks and Recreation director (1986-1989), deputy director (1984-1986), Maui County deputy prosecuting attorney (1980-1984)
Education: Bachelor's, American Studies, Hawaii; Juris Doctorate, UH School of Law
Born: 1954, Honolulu
Family: Married, three children, two grandchildren
Athletic background: Played on Rainbow Wahine volleyball team (1972-75), including first intercollegiate team in 1974. Bonham Award winner for UH's top scholar-athlete (1976).
Other notable: Has served on several NCAA committees, including postseason football licensing, Division I women's volleyball, Division I men's and women's swimming and diving and NCAA Olympic sports liaison and NCAA championships/competition cabinet.

BOB WAGNER

Current job: Kamehameha-Hawaii athletic director (since 2002)
Other positions: University of Hawaii head football coach (1987-1995), UH assistant football coach (1977-1986)
Education: Bachelor's, business administration, Wittenberg; Master's, physical education, Ohio
Born: 1947, Newark, Ohio
Family: Married, one daughter
Athletic background: Played football and lacrosse at Wittenberg, captaining both teams and earning All-Midwest honors in lacrosse.
Other notable: Assistant football coach at Arizona and Texas-El Paso. Published author. Has also coached track and field and swimming and served as a voter on the Harris Interactive Poll that helps determine the BCS football rankings.