University of Hawaii athletics hits a historic high in Academic Progress Rate

The University of Hawaii achieved its highest all-sports multi-year score in the 13 years of the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rating and, with it, removed its men’s basketball team from what had been a lingering threat of sanctions.

UH’s 18-surveyed sports averaged a combined four-year rate average of 980, four points higher than the previous high set last year.

UH’s score was three points below what the NCAA said was the Division I national average, which was a two-point jump from 2017.

The APR is a key metric of academic performance, reflecting progress and retention. Under-performing sports can face NCAA sanctions, including loss of scholarships or a ban on postseason competition for 2018-19 if they finish under 930.

This year’s announced figures were calculated from a four-year cycle that was measured through the 2016-17 school year.

None of UH’s sports finished below the 947 posted by men’s basketball and three teams — women’s golf, soccer and women’s tennis — posted perfect scores of 1,000.

A 92-point leap in single year APR’s from 886 last year to 978 this time propelled men’s basketball out of what UH officials had termed “the danger area.”

David Ericson, a College of Education professor who serves as UH’s Faculty Athletic Representative, said, “we had been concerned about men’s basketball for some time.” But, he said, a combined effort across several offices has paid off.

UH earned consecutive scores of 1,000 in 2007-08 and 2008-09 under then-coach Bob Nash but his successors were unable to maintain the level. The departures of several players in low academic standing in the wake of NCAA sanctions further opened the Rainbow Warriors up to the possibility of sanctions if the latest numbers hadn’t shown dramatic improvement.

Athletic director David Matlin said, “The men’s basketball program has made great strides in academic areas under Coach (Eran) Ganot and his staff. They have worked with the Student Athlete Academic Services chair Courtney Tsumoto and Academic Advisor Kari Ambrozich to significantly improve APR and academic performance. Special thanks to Dr. Ron Cambra for his leadership and team work with our student athletes, coaches and support staff.”

Eleven of 18 UH teams (the NCAA counts indoor and outdoor track as one score and does not count women’s and coed sailing at all) showed multi-year scores of 980 or better.

Eight teams — baseball, women’s basketball, women’s golf, softball, soccer, women’s tennis, track and field and water polo — had scores higher than the national average for their sports. Five UH teams — women’s basketball, women’s golf, softball, women’s tennis and water polo — reached 13-year highs for their programs.

Football (964) ranked fifth among its peers in the 12-member Mountain West Conference, while baseball (982) and women’s basketball (991) ranked second among the nine Big West Conference members and men’s basketball (947) was sixth.