MANOA, Hawaii (KHON2) — The position for the University of Hawaii’s athletics director has officially been filled, after the Board of Regents unanimously approved Matt Elliott for the job.
Elliott was welcomed on Monday, June 16, with handshakes and hugs. He said the job is motivating and inspiring, working with student athletes to provide them the best college experience and prepare them for the future.
“To have that intersection, a love for academics, a love for sport, and to be able to be in a place to have an impact on this community, it just seemed like the absolutely perfect opportunity,” said Matt Elliott, new UH Manoa Athletics Director.
Elliott was chosen after a nationwide search. Over 100 candidates were whittled down to ten semi-finalists, and then four finalists.
School leaders said his work as UCLA’s chief strategy officer, and then in the private sector at Hawaii Community Foundation, made Elliott the clear choice.
“The more I talk to Matt, the more impressed I am,” said Wendy Hensel, UH president. “And I think that’s something that’s not always true in this day and age, somebody who both has ideas and strategies who’ll be a true team player and thought partner to me.”
“I see the progression in his career and then we just look at how balanced a person is, what their potential is, and how they’re going to be able to work with the rest of the staff, administration, coaches, as well as the president,” said Gabe Lee, UH Board of Regents Chair.
During the meeting, one of the regents said more people asked her about the new athletics director than the new school president. Despite the magnitude of this position, Elliott said he’s not feeling any pressure.
“I see little kids running around the fields, playing soccer, playing baseball every day,” said Elliott. “I know how much high school sports matter and I know how much UH matters.”
Elliott said the big priorities include building a new Aloha Stadium and looking for more revenue-gathering opportunities for the school, including ticket sales, sponsorships, donations and media rights.
“Sure, I understand that there are challenges, but that’s what we do,” said Elliott. “We navigate new challenges. We respond to change, we gotta set a plan. We gotta get our whole team aligned around what that plan is, and if we do that, I’m sure, I’m absolutely sure we can be successful, and we can make this entire state proud.”
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“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on board and to get started and to take this athletics department from excellent to the absolute best place we can possibly take it,” said Hensel.
Elliott’s first official day on the job is June 30th.