Donovan feels Hawaii associate athletic director Jim Donovan will apply for athletic director, Donovan told the Star-Bulletin yesterday.
he’s right for
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The Hawaii associate athletic director
has been in the department since 1984By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comHugh Yoshida, who currently holds the position, said in February he will retire by the end of the year.
A search advisory committee to find Yoshida's replacement held its first meeting yesterday. Donovan said he feels the group doesn't have to look far for the most qualified person.
"I've been training for it for 10 years," he said. "I believe in my heart I'm the best for the job. My goal has always been to be a great No. 2, partly so I could be a good No. 1 someday."
Donovan, a former UH offensive lineman, began working for the athletic department's administration in 1984 as the Rainbow Stadium manager. Three years later, he became sports marketing director. Six years after that, he was promoted to assistant athletic director (administrative services). In 1996, the position was upgraded to associate athletic director.
Donovan, 42, holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and an MBA, both from UH.
"I have a strong business background," he said. "Essentially, I've been a COO (chief operating officer), working with budgets and day-to-day operations."
Other possible candidates include Donovan's former coach at UH, Dick Tomey, and Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson. But Donovan is the first to publicly state his interest. How he and others will apply has not been determined.
David McClain, chair of the search advisory committee, said two of its first tasks are coming up with a job description and the logistics of the application process. Also, the group will use a search firm.
"We have an old job description, but the role of athletic directors has changed since then," he said. "We have no details yet on how we will advertise."
McClain also said he hopes to get input from Yoshida and UH coaches.
"We want to get Hugh's sense of what the position requires," McClain said.
The committee's assignment is to provide UH Manoa interim chancellor Deane Neubauer with three finalists for the position, McClain said.
Two student-athletes, Kevin Gilbride (baseball) and Margaret Vakasausau (volleyball) were added to the committee. The faculty representative has not been named.
"I think it's a strong group. Everyone has a passion for athletics and understands its importance in the community," McClain said.
The committee meets again in two weeks, he said.
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