The introduction of Herman Frazier as the next University of Hawaii athletics director was a praise-laden event for the man charged with guiding the department to the next level. Frazier has coaches
in a frenzyBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comHugh Yoshida, who will retire as athletics director at the end of the year, was on the receiving end of warm accolades for his efforts from UH president Evan Dobelle and Frazier, who had touched bases with Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson.
Several UH coaches who had yet to meet Frazier during his whirlwind trip to the islands attended yesterday's noon media conference.
"Anyone who was listening to this press conference today can't help but get excited about the future of all our sports," said UH baseball coach Mike Trapasso.
Men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton said, "Herman hasn't had a lot of time to do a lot of homework, but it sounds like in the limited amount of time he's had that he has done some homework. I'm sure between now and Aug. 1 he'll do a lot more homework."
Frazier's appointment is effective Aug. 1 and his contract is for three years through July 21, 2005.
"He strikes me as being the kind of guy, like President Dobelle, who hit the ground running when he first came here. He already had a game plan in place," said Wilton.
"I suspect that will be pretty true of Herman as well. I thought he spoke well. One thing I liked was he didn't try to answer questions he shouldn't. There were some questions he couldn't possibly know the answer to."
Trapasso added, "I've never met him, but we have a mutual friend who is good friends with Mr. Frazier and with whom I'm close. We've talked a couple of times this past week and he told me Mr. Frazier is great guy, a good person foremost, someone I would be very excited to work for."
Wilton also is excited about Dobelle's remarks about having UH athletics known throughout Asia to complement the positioning of the university as a global university.
"We would like to recruit in Asia," said Wilton who hopes the layers of paperwork will be completed in time for a team from China to play here next spring and allow his men to go to that country this fall.
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