Indications are that the University of Hawaii search advisory committee is wrapping up its work and could shortly make a recommendation on a new athletic director.

Although Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin is said to have scored well with the eight-member committee in a two-hour interview, people briefed on the process insisted no official presentation had been made by committee chairman Warren Haruki to Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman as of late Thursday.

Matlin, who also operates the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, did not return calls Thursday and has referred questions to Haruki and ex-officio search coordinator Michele Tom.

UH has declined comment citing "search integrity" for a process that hits the two-month mark Friday.

Bley-Vroman, who has not sat in on interviews and is not bound by committee recommendations, is said to have been gathering community feedback on the process independently.

Reportedly, in recent days, that has increasingly included fielding questions about the absence of interviews for some prominent candidates, including Hawaii News Now general manager Rick Blangiardi and insurance executive Keith Amemiya.

Blangiardi was nominated by Central Pacific Bank CEO John Dean, an original committee member who left the panel last month. Amemiya made a formal application, according to a UH official.

Short list candidates are said to include UH associate AD John McNamara and Texas-Pan American athletic director Chris King.