Search for permanent UH Hilo athletic director continues

Dr. Luoluo Hong, vice chancellor for student affairs and acting athletic director for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, today announced that the search for the university‘s permanent athletic director resumes.

With two of the three finalists withdrawing their candidacy following campus visits for the top position in Vulcan Athletics, the search committee will be continuing its work into the spring 2009 semester.

"The most recent anticipated start date for a new director had been March 1st," said Hong, who also serves as search committee chair. "That timeline has now been revised.

"Naturally, the coaches and staff, as well as the broader community who have been supporting Vulcan Athletics since Day One, are disappointed," she added. "However, we will continue our search efforts. We hope now to bring a new leader on board by July 1st so that this individual can help jumpstart us for the fall sports season.

"The search process has given the campus a chance to reflect more extensively on what is needed in the new AD in order for him or her to be successful," she explained. "We are extending the search process to ensure that we make the very best decision in the end for UH Hilo."

Hong further added, "All of the members of the search committee are committed to engaging in a thorough and fair search process until we are sure we have found the right person for this critically important job." In the meantime, Hong will continue to serve as acting athletic director in addition to her role as a vice chancellor for student affairs.