The Western Athletic Conference said it isn’t giving up on convincing the University of Hawaii to remain in the WAC and will continue to pursue other prospective members as well.

Commissioner Karl Benson said he plans to meet with University of Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan tomorrow in Las Vegas to renew the conference’s interest in retaining UH, its senior member.

UH, which has been a WAC member for 32 years, is pursuing Mountain West Conference membership in football and an affiliation with the Big West in other sports.

But Benson said on a media conference call he will meet with Donovan at the WAC volleyball championships. He said, “I will reiterate the WAC’s desire for Hawaii to remain in the WAC and out willingness to work with Hawaii to create a structure that will be beneficial to them and to the WAC.”

Benson said, “our intention here is to let the University of Hawaii know they are a valued member of the WAC…”

Benson declined to elaborate on what proposals he might make to Donovan. However, he reaffirmed an offer made last Thursday to permit UH to remain as a football-only member, if Hawaii so choses.

Meanwhile, Benson said he has talked to officials of North Texas about joining the WAC.