University of Hawaii track coach Carmyn James says she can’t wait to tell her team the news that their long-awaited campus home — the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex — will be ready for move-in this month.

"It’s really exciting, I know they’ll be thrilled," James said Wednesday.

So, too, are UH officials after the NCAA had threatened sanctions if the Jan. 28 deadline for completion of a key element of the $13.39 million project, the locker rooms, offices and meeting rooms, wasn’t met.

The complex, which includes separate locker rooms for the women’s track/cross country and soccer teams and a sand volleyball facility, was a lagging part of UH’s commitment to meet Title IX obligations.

The Ching complex is named for the late developer and UH fan whose foundation pledged the initial $5 million in 2008, marking the largest gift received by UH athletics. UH was to come up with the remainder.

But despite a 2009 dedication on the site of the former Cooke Field and announced 2011 target date for a grand opening, ground wasn’t broken until 2012 after regents approved an emergency $3 million in bond revenues to speed up the project. Last year UH officials said they were told completion could be by October 2013 with Dec. 31, 2013, a worst-case scenario.

But after a series of extensions, athletic director Ben Jay said the NCAA put its foot down and threatened the school with sanctions, including having its teams barred from championship play, if the final deadline wasn’t met.

Though much of the facility, including grandstands, may not be completed until April, Stephen Meder, assistant vice-chancellor for physical, environmental and long-range planning, said having the first-floor locker rooms, office and meeting rooms certified for occupancy by Jan. 28 was key. "We’re very happy this has moved forward to meet the deadline and that the NCAA is going to be comfortable with it," Meder said.

Jay said he notified the NCAA "that we are fully anticipating we’ll be able to move in on time and that our teams will have the home they have been waiting for."

James said she expects the April 12 Rainbow Relays to be the first meet in the fully finished facility.

"We’re happy to hear that the Ching Complex will be opening and can be used by our athletes the way it should be used," said John Holzman, Board of Regents chairman.

Meder said there was a "cost overrun for unforeseen infrastructure" additions to the project, but an estimate was not immediately available.

In November regents ordered an audit of the project but the report has yet to be issued, UH said.