Apple asked to back claim on letter from coaches

State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said she has sent University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple a letter asking him to "clarify" some of the statements he made to the Senate Special Committee on Accountability on Oct. 2.

In reviewing Apple’s testimony, Kim said she is especially interested in Apple’s claim that "43 of 44 coaches" sent him a letter thanking him after he removed Jim Donovan as athletic director.

During the hearing, Apple said, "in the interest of transparency, I’ll say something. I received a couple of weeks later (after Donovan’s removal) a letter from 43 of 44 coaches saying thank you for the leadership we have."

Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Halawa) said the committee is in the process of preparing its report for the Senate and is asking Apple to "please, specifically, point out where the letter states that coaches remarked ‘thank you for the leadership we have.’" She sent the letter Monday.

The day after the Oct. 2 hearing, coaches of several UH sports teams told the Star-Advertiser they were surprised by Apple’s assertion about the letter since they said they were not aware of such a letter.

The coaches speculated that Apple was referring to a three-page Aug. 28 letter signed by 45 coaches, including all but one head coach, asking Apple to "consider immediately appointing (UH vice president for student affairs) Dr. Rockne Freitas as our athletic director."

A spokeswoman for the chancellor’s office, Diane Chang, subsequently confirmed to the Star-Advertiser that that was the letter Apple referenced and said in an email, "Chancellor Apple said he was referring to the wholehearted support for leadership expressed in the Aug. 28 letter."

That letter, which made no mention of Donovan in the three paragraphs preceding the signatures and only touted Freitas, came 16 days after Donovan had been reassigned to a position in the chancellor’s office and five days after an athletic director search advisory committee had been announced.

Two days after Apple’s appearance in front of the committee, prominent athletic booster and attorney Bert T. Kobayashi Jr. announced his resignation from the board of directors of ‘Ahahui Koa Anuenue, the athletic booster organization. In a letter to Koa Anuenue board members, Kobayashi said he had "no respect" for Apple and, "I cannot believe the things that he has said and the excuses that he has given and I do not wish to continue with AKA if he is the chancellor."

Kim, citing apparently conflicting statements from Apple and UH President M.R.C. Greenwood, is also asking Apple to clarify when he decided not to renew Donovan’s contract and when Donovan was told he would not be retained.

Kim said the committee has also sent letters to some members of the Board of Regents asking for clarification on some points.

Kim said that, pending the responses from Apple and regents, it could be at least another week before the committee’s report is completed.

Meanwhile, Apple sent an email Monday to the "Manoa ohana," stating in part, "I am here to advocate for the students, faculty, staff and alumni of Manoa. My commitment is to you." He asked for feedback on UH-Manoa’s future and said people may contact him at tatapple5@gmail.com.

UH coaches letter Chancellor Tom Apple’s letter to the UH community