First the AD, then the coach

The search for a new basketball coach at the University of Hawaii apparently has been pushed back so that the next athletic director can make the hire.

The move represents a significant change in plans for UH, which had sought to hire a coach sooner and was to have begun advertising for a coach earlier this week.

It comes as the search for an AD has shown signs of moving ahead quickly. Friday marks the conclusion of the first week since interviews began, according to a search advisory committee member, and Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman held out the possibility an AD could be picked by the end of the month.

"Our target is to get somewhere pretty clear by the end of the month," Bley-Vroman told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial board while cautioning, "you never know what complications are going to arise toward the end."

Bley-Vroman said, "If you have a new athletic director, you’d certainly want to listen to their advice on that matter." he said, "we don’t need to hire a basketball coach tomorrow. We’ve got some time. By the time the Final Four (rolls) around (in early April) we can start thinking about those questions."

Bley-Vroman declined to say the change was, in any part, due to sentiments voiced by candidates interviewed for the AD position.

Previously UH officials had been holding out the likelihood of hiring a coach before an AD was named. In January it offered Benjy Taylor, who took over in the wake of Gib Arnold’s Oct. 28 firing, a one-year extension.

Taylor, who sought a multi-year deal, turned down the extension.

UH officials have said Taylor would be encouraged to apply and on Thursday he emphasized his interest in being a candidate.

"I certainly plan to apply for it, but timing is everything," Taylor said as his 19-12 Rainbow Warriors prepared to depart for Saturday’s regular-season finale at Cal State Fullerton.

"(Timing) is going to be very, very crucial … of when they’re going to appoint the AD, and have the search, and when they’re going to place the job opening."

Taylor was emotional on the subject of his retention or departure after Wednesday’s 98-90 senior-night loss to UC Santa Barbara. He said he was proud of his team’s 19 wins with another chance at reaching 20 on Saturday.

"I want to be here. I want to be the head basketball coach here," he said. "I want to see it through and I think I’ve proven myself. We’re only going to get better the longer we can stay together."

The path appears clear for UH to try to reach the postseason at the Big West tournament starting Thursday in Anaheim, Calif.

On Thursday, UH clarified its stance on possible self-imposed postseason sanctions as a result of the NCAA’s investigation of the basketball program. UH spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said in a statement, "We expect to be playing in next week’s tournament."

Two UH players with eligibility remaining next season said they’ve tried to put the coaching situation aside and focus on matters within their immediate control.

"I don’t really know," junior point guard Roderick Bobbitt said. "I just know (Taylor) took us in late with everything that’s going on. And we did better than a lot of people, what they expected."

Said sophomore forward Stefan Jankovic: "We came in with one coach, now it’s a different one. You know, all we can really do is play. There’s nothing we can control with the head coach right now and what’s going on."

As for in-person interviews for the AD position, they have involved both local — David Matlin and John McNamara — as well as mainland candidates. A committee member said they began last week.

Matlin, the executive director of the Hawaii Bowl since 2008, also operates the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic and formerly worked in the UH ticket office and for the Houston Astros.

He did not return calls to the Star-Advertiser seeking comment.

McNamara, an associate athletic director at UH since 2004, formerly worked at the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA and Mid-American Conference.

He referred requests for comment to committee chairman Warren Haruki.

Two prominent figures, Keith Amemiya and Rick Blangiardi, had not been offered interviews by Thursday afternoon, people familiar with the process said.

Amemiya, an insurance executive and former executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association and a lawyer, declined comment.

Blangiardi, president and general manager of Hawaii News Now and a former network TV executive and UH football coach, had not applied but had reportedly been "nominated" by a member of the search committee. He also declined comment.

UH has not publicly commented on the number of candidates since Feb. 12 when it announced "over 70 applications" had been received. Many of those are said to have been eliminated for not having met the posted minimum qualifications, which included, "three years of athletic administrative experience at the collegiate level or any equivalent combination of education and experience."

Bley-Vroman refused comment on how many candidates failed to meet that qualification or how many remained. UH has not updated its search website in nearly a month.

Jay announced his resignation Dec. 9 but has continued to serve as UH searches for a successor.

The Star-Advertiser’s Dave Reardon contributed to this report.