HONOLULU - University of Hawai'i at Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw announced the hiring of Jim Donovan as the new Director of Athletics Thursday afternoon following a vote by the University's Board of Regents. Donovan succeeds Herman Frazier, who resigned in January.
"I am delighted that Jim Donovan will be serving as UH Manoa's Athletics Director," Hinshaw said. "Jim's vision, experience and ability, combined with his passion for UH Manoa and bond with Hawai'i, make him a great match for ensuring the future success of our athletics programs."
"I'm honored and humbled to represent something that means so much to the people of Hawai'i," Donovan said. "The University of Hawai'i Athletics Department really belongs to everyone in the state and we'll work hard everyday to make everyone welcome and appreciated for their support."
Donovan spent the past six years as the executive director of the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, where he started the bowl game from the ground up in 2002. In six years, he secured conference affiliations with the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA, and Pac-10. The game consistently ranked among the highest rated non-BCS games and achieved profitability in five of the six years.
Presently, Donovan is the president and CEO of m2c, Inc., a business consulting company that provides leadership and strategic direction in event management. Some of his clients include ESPN Regional Television, Panda Travel, and Sodexho Food Services.
Donovan, 48, is no stranger to the university having spent 17 years in athletics administration. The Anaheim, Calif., native began his tenure with the UHAD as manager of Rainbow Stadium (presently Les Murakami Stadium), where he served for three years (1985-88). Donovan was promoted to Sports Marketing Director in 1988, and spent the next six years heading the promotion and corporate sponsorship of the department.
In 1994, he was named Assistant AD for Administrative Services and in 1996 became the Associate AD until his resignation in 2002. He spent nine years as the right-hand man for former AD Hugh Yoshida.
During his tenure, Donovan helped negotiate contracts and assisted with the recruitment of former football coach June Jones, current baseball coach Mike Trapasso and softball coach Bob Coolen. He also negotiated contracts with KFVE-TV, KCCN Radio, the Stan Sheriff Center and Aloha Stadium scoreboard advertising packages, and MBNA affinity credit card.
Donovan also helped establish relationships and improve the quality of service provided to the customers of UH Athletics. He was directly responsible for creating the Rainbow Fun Run, Midnight 'Ohana, the UH Letterwinners Club, the Athletic Director's Club, the Paradise in the Pacific Golf Tournament and UHAD Corporate Sponsor Golf Tournament.
Serving as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the state's only Division I athletics program, he effectively managed the department's operational budget of $17 million. He used new technological advances to launch the department's website and implemented new ticket operation improvements which included computerized ticketing, credit card, phone, and internet sales and establishing third-party ticketing network with remote outlets.
Donovan also served on the Gender Equity Subcommittee and was the department's spokesperson for matters involving the Hawai'i State Legislature, UH Board of Regents, Athletic Advisory Board, Aloha Stadium Authority, NCAA Certification Committee and various community organizations. His vast relationships with other Division I administrators resulted in multi-year football contracts with schools such as Southern California, Brigham Young, and San Diego State.
In addition to serving as founding member of the UH Letterwinners Club, Donovan also was on the Board of Directors for the UH Alumni Association, Hawai'i Bowl Foundation, and Shidler College of Business Alumni Association.
Donovan arrived on the Manoa campus as an offensive lineman for the UH football team from 1981-82, where he earned honorable mention all-WAC honors as a senior. Following his playing career, he was a graduate assistant for former coach Dick Tomey from 1983-85.
Donovan earned his bachelor's of arts degree in geography and executive master's degree in business administration from UH. He is married to the former Tracy Orillo and they have two children, Jacqueline and Joshua.