UH picks official from OSU to lead athletics

The University of Hawaii ended five months of turmoil, speculation and uncertainty for its sports programs by announcing Friday that an Ohio State University official will be its new athletic director.

Ben Jay, OSU’s executive associate athletic director for finance and operations, will succeed Jim Dono­van.

Donovan was put on leave from his post as UH athletic director in July when the school launched an investigation into the promotion of a Stevie Wonder concert that never materialized. Although he would be cleared of misconduct, Dono­van never returned to his athletic director job, instead agreeing to a reassignment in Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple’s office.

Apple chose Jay over Solo­mon "Solly" Fulp, the University of California’s deputy director of athletics. An 11-member selection committee recommended Jay and Fulp as finalists.

"This is extremely exciting for anybody in our business," Jay said in a telephone interview with the Star-Advertiser. "This is one of the dream opportunities. This is what we strive for in our business. You want to be a leader of a top Division I-A program. I’m absolutely thrilled about the opportunity."

UH spokeswoman Diane Chang said Jay’s appointment is pending the approval of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. Chang said the Board of Regents’ approval is not required.

Jay and Apple reached an agreement on a three-year contract. UH has the option for an additional two years. Jay declined to reveal the salary. Contract terms will be made public after Greenwood signs off on the appointment.

Former UH athletic director Herman Frazier earned an annual salary of $250,000. Dono­van’s was $240,000, but he took voluntary pay cuts that reduced his salary to $228,000 each of the past three years. Dono­van declined to comment for this article.

UH announced the hiring at 3:19 p.m., when a mass email was distributed. Chang wrote in an email that Apple would not be available for an interview with the Star-Advertiser on Friday.

But in a video interview with Ka Leo o Hawaii, the UH student newspaper, Apple indicated Jay’s "background in accounting and finance" was a factor in his hiring. Apple said Jay was in charge of a $135 million budget at Ohio State.

UH’s athletic department budget is about $100 million smaller. The department has borrowed more than $10 million from a UH fund to cover revenue shortfalls the past decade.

"He is very aware of the deficit, and he has ideas on how to move us forward," Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji said.

Jay said, "One of the things is taking on challenges. I think if you ask (Ohio State athletic director) Gene Smith or any of my former bosses, that’s something I enjoy. I like to try to tackle issues."

Jay said he expects to begin at UH in January.

Jay’s father was born in Peru, then moved to China, where he was married. The couple then moved to the United States.

Jay was born and raised in Columbus, where his parents owned a mom-and-pop store near the Ohio State campus.

He is an Ohio State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s in athletic administration.

He has worked as a minor league general manager and was director of operations for the Cleveland Indians. He was an assistant athletic director at Fairfield University before working 12 years as the Pac-10 Conference’s commissioner for business and finance. In 2006 he returned to Ohio State.

Jay and his wife, Ling, have three children.

Jay did not apply for the UH job. Parker Search, hired by UH, contacted Jay about three weeks ago. A week ago the selection committee interviewed Jay via Skype.

"The next thing I know, they wanted to bring me to Hawaii," Jay said.

Jay and Fulp were in Hawaii earlier this week, meeting with the search committee, UH officials and select coaches.

Shoji, football coach Norm Chow and women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman were on the initial selection committee. They stepped down after it was learned they had signed a petition requesting that Rockne Frei­tas remain as the athletic director permanently.

Freitas, a UH vice president, has served as acting athletic director since July. Frei­tas did not apply for the AD job.

"We were really fortunate to have Rockne come in," Apple said in the Ka Leo video. "There was a lot of turmoil going on over there, and he’s really made the department function well."

It has not been determined whether Jay will be allowed to hire his own staff.

This week Jay toured the facilities, had dinner with Greenwood and answered concerns from some staff and coaches. During one meeting he acknowledged the athletic department would need financial help from outside sources, including the Legislature.

The process of hiring a new athletic director had several detours, such as reassembling a selection committee and the state Senate hearing focusing on the investigation into the botched Wonder concert. In contrast, Dono­van was hired two months after UH and Frazier negotiated their divorce in 2008.

"I’m glad the process is over, and I’m looking forward to moving forward," Chow said.

Jay said, "It’s like the value of a good stock. There’s great upside with the program. You have great coaches. You have a history of success. There are many, many good things about the program. It’s something I want to build upon."