Athletic director hire could come today

Manoa chancellor Tom Apple might announce a new University of Hawaii athletic director as early as mid-day.

Apple has hosted the two candidates recommended by an 11-member search committee — Ben Jay, Ohio State’s senior associate athletic director, and Solomon "Solly" Fulp, California’s deputy director of athletics.

This week, Jay and Fulp met with UH coaches, toured the athletic department facilities, and had separate dinners with UH president M.R.C. Greenwood. In each meeting, they answered questions about how they would handle UH’s smaller operating budget and growing accumulated deficit.

Apple will make the choice and spearhead the contract negotiations.

While there has been widespread speculation that Jay was the frontrunner, three people close to the process said Apple had not made a decision as of Thursday afternoon.

Jim Donovan was removed as athletic director on July 11. UH vice president Rockne Freitas has served as acting athletic director.

Freitas, who returns to Hawaii today after speaking at a forum in New Zealand, did not apply for the AD job, although that would not preclude him from being appointed to the position.

Jay’s father was born in Peru, moved to China, married his wife, and then moved to the United States. Jay’s parents operated a mom-and-pop store near the Ohio State campus. Jay and his wife are Ohio State graduates.

Jay was the general manager of a minor league baseball team, director of operations for the Cleveland Indians, and the Pac-10 associate commissioner for business and finance.

Fulp, who was born in Alaska, is an Oregon graduate and former wrestler. He was an assistant and associate athletic director at Sacramento State, and an assistant athletic director for corporate development at California. He also was vice president and general manager for Cal ISP Sports Network for three years.