{"id":171137,"date":"2023-01-04T10:27:30","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T20:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=171137"},"modified":"2023-01-06T15:38:41","modified_gmt":"2023-01-07T01:38:41","slug":"matlin-retire-as-uh-athletics-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/01\/04\/matlin-retire-as-uh-athletics-director\/","title":{"rendered":"Matlin to retire as UH<\/abbr> athletics director on June 2"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"David<\/p>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa Athletics Director (AD<\/abbr>) David Matlin<\/strong> announced today (Wednesday, January 4, 2023) he is retiring from the university effective June 2, 2023. Matlin was named AD<\/abbr> in March 2015<\/a> and under his leadership, the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Athletics Department<\/a> has experienced unprecedented success, both on and off the playing field. While grade point averages and graduation rates of student athletes hit all-time highs, the men\u2019s volleyball team captured back-to-back national championships, 30 teams participated in national postseason competition, the football team was invited to five bowl games, 14 teams won conference titles and 19 teams captured conference tournament crowns.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

Matlin hired 16 head coaches, the most by any AD<\/abbr> in school history, and is the only AD<\/abbr> to hire three football head coaches (Nick Rolovich<\/strong>, Todd Graham<\/strong> and Timmy Chang<\/strong>), in addition to other flagship sports—men\u2019s basketball (Eran Ganot<\/strong>), women\u2019s volleyball (Robyn Ah Mow<\/strong>) and baseball (Rich Hill<\/strong>). He oversaw $35 million in facility upgrades impacting nearly all of UH<\/abbr>\u2019s 21 sports programs, while also increasing overall fundraising by $45 million in the last seven years.<\/p>\n

This has been more than a job for me, it\u2019s been the opportunity of a lifetime to work with some incredible people\u2014our student-athletes, coaches, staff, university leadership, and of course our fans
— Matlin<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“It\u2019s been an honor to serve as the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Athletics Director for the past seven and a half years,” Matlin said. “This has been more than a job for me, it\u2019s been the opportunity of a lifetime to work with some incredible people—our student-athletes, coaches, staff, university leadership, and of course our fans—and I thank you all for the passion and dedication that each and every one of you give to our program every day. It\u2019s with deep appreciation that I can say that I\u2019m ready to retire as Athletics Director and pass the torch on to the next UH<\/abbr> AD<\/abbr> when I complete my 8-year term on June 2, 2023.”<\/p>\n

Matlin also led the program through the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of Aloha Stadium, the football team\u2019s home field, in December 2020. Working closely with UH<\/abbr> leadership, Matlin oversaw the retrofit of the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex from 3,500 seats to 9,300 seats in time for the 2021 football season. He is also leading the effort to expand the Ching Complex to 15,000 seats<\/a> in time for the 2023 season.<\/p>\n

David has never wavered from putting the health and safety and academic success of our student athletes first. I can\u2019t wait to see what successes and joys David\u2019s next chapter brings…
—Lassner<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“David Matlin has been a fantastic UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Athletics Director and is truly going out on top,” UH<\/abbr> President David Lassner<\/strong> said. “He is a highly respected senior AD<\/abbr> and leader in the Big West Conference, the Mountain West Conference and nationally. David has navigated UH<\/abbr> through multiple crises including COVID-19 and the unexpected loss of Aloha Stadium. He has strengthened our program financially by reducing costs where possible and creating new revenue streams. David has led us with integrity and responsibility through the initial upheavals in intercollegiate athletics that are now shaking the foundations of amateurism, including the introduction of the transfer portal and Name\/Image\/Likeness (NIL<\/abbr>). He has given UH<\/abbr> our exceptionally strong current cadre of head coaches who are at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa by choice because they care deeply about Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and our university. And most of all, David has never wavered from putting the health and safety and academic success of our student athletes first. I can’t wait to see what successes and joys David\u2019s next chapter brings to the Matlins.”<\/p>\n

\"Dave
AD<\/abbr> David Matlin and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/abbr> player Max Rosenfeld pose with the NCAA<\/abbr> trophy after winning the 2021 title.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other notable achievements under his Matlin\u2019s tenure include:<\/strong><\/p>\n