Asian-Americans reach the top of the mountain

When Hugh Yoshida attended national collegiate athletic directors meetings representing the University of Hawaii a decade ago, there was something he could usually count on.

Being the only Asian-American face in the room.

When Ben Jay, UH’s new AD, attends his first meetings on the Warriors/Rainbow Wahine/Rainbow Warriors/Rainbows’ behalf, things will be slightly different.

He will be one of at least three on the NCAA Division I level.

In the past six months three ADs of Asian-American ancestry, including Jay, have been hired. Whether it is an overdue trend toward a wider opening of the doors of opportunity or coincidence remains to be seen.

Yoshida, who guided UH from 1993 to 2002, was the first AD of Japanese-American ancestry at a major college and is believed to be the first of Asian-American ancestry, although neither the NCAA nor the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport could say for certain.

The one thing they can say is that with 345 AD jobs on the Division I level overall and 124 on the Football Bowl Subdivision, it has been a while in coming.

Ten years after Yoshida retired, Florida Atlantic hired Patrick Chun, an associate AD at Ohio State of Korean ancestry last summer. Jay, who was also an associate with the Buckeyes and is of Chinese ancestry, was hired by UH on Dec. 7. Twelve days later, Victoria Chun, who had been interim AD at Colgate and is of Chinese ancestry, was made permanent AD.

For a decade theirs has been a small club big on shared aspirations and support. "We all knew each other," Victoria Chun said. "We knew we had to pay our dues and thought it would happen eventually. But with all three of us coming (at once) it is kinda cool."

Patrick Chun said, "Higher education is about diversity, and I think it is a natural evolution of sports in this country and a healthy reflection of where athletics is headed.

Ling Jay, Ben’s wife, said she believes it also speaks to the values instilled by immigrant parents. "Those positions don’t come open very often to us, so we have to work extra hard. That is how our parents always brought us up," she said. "I think that has always been in the back of his (Ben’s) mind, which is why he has worked so hard to get that opportunity."

With their rise, the three say they feel a sense of accomplishment, but also recognize a considerable responsibility that comes with it. "Ben and I were fortunate to work for a guy like Gene Smith at Ohio State (one of the first African-American ADs on the Bowl Championship level) who understood the idea of giving people a chance," Patrick Chun said. "So, we understand our responsibility, too. We understand that message of diversity and are always willing to help mentor and (assist) younger people working their way up the ladder."

Said Ben Jay, "Part of realizing your dream is sharing it by encouraging those who have the passion for the profession that you felt."

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Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.