Morrison, Stan Morrison and Rockne Freitas don't have a whole lot in common other than their extensive sports backgrounds. But both names have come up as candidates to be the next Hawaii athletic director -- and both say they are happy at their current jobs, but are willing to consider applying.
Freitas pop up
as possibilities
They're interested in the Hawaii AD
job, but are also happy where they areBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comCurrent Hawaii associate AD Jim Donovan and former Hawaii head and current Texas-El Paso associate head football coach Bob Wagner told the Star-Bulletin last week that they are seeking the job.
Morrison, 62, and Freitas, 56, join former UH coach Dick Tomey and WAC commissioner Karl Benson as not officially looking, but not counting it out, either.
Morrison, now the UC-Riverside athletic director, said he is "more than willing to listen" about the UH position. But he stressed that he is comfortable where he is.
"I have a wonderful, wonderful job that I enjoy very much," said Morrison, who has been with the Highlanders since 1999, ushering the program into Division I.
The search committee charged with finding a replacement for the retiring Hugh Yoshida has solicited input from UH coaches. Men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton said Monday he will recommend Morrison.
Morrison played on a national championship basketball team at California and played pro basketball in Europe. After 15 years as a basketball head coach at Pacific and Southern California, he became athletic director at UC-Santa Barbara. He returned to coaching at San Jose State, and the Spartans became the third school that he took to the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his current job at UC-Riverside, Morrison was a personal coach and consultant to Shaquille O'Neal.
Morrison, who was recently in Hawaii with the Highlanders' baseball team, said he counts UH basketball coach Riley Wallace as a "close friend."
Freitas works at Kamehameha Schools where he is a vice president and executive director of the Kealii Pauahi Foundation, which provides financial aid for native Hawaiians seeking education.
After a pro football career including two years as an all-pro tackle with the Detroit Lions, Freitas worked at UH as assistant and associate athletic director from 1984 to 1991, when he was promoted to vice president of university relations.
"I had at least an indirect hand in hiring many of the people at UH (athletics) now," Freitas said.
After four years on the upper campus, Freitas went to work for Kamehameha.
Along the way, the member of the Oregon State football Hall of Fame earned master's and doctorate degrees from UH.
"I learned a long time ago to never rule out anything," Freitas said. "I also learned I need to pay attention to where I am employed. I'm in a relatively new organization, the program's not even a year old. I haven't had a chance to do anything but my job here and paddle (for Hui Lanakila)."
UH president Evan Dobelle wants to have a new athletic director in place by the end of July. The post pays $140,000 a year, but Dobelle wants to increase it to $180,000 to be in line with the national average.
University of Hawaii
