HONOLULU – University of Hawai‘i Associate Athletics Director Jim Donovan announced his plans to leave UH at a press conference today.

“It’s been a privilege to serve the University and the people of Hawai‘i through UH Athletics,” Donovan said. “The two things I’ll cherish the most is being able to make difference for the student-athletes and the coaches, and working with some very special people.”

Donovan, 42, began his association with UH Athletics as an offensive lineman on the Warrior football team in 1981. He went on to serve as a graduate assistant for Dick Tomey in 1983.

The native of Anaheim, Calif., got his start in athletic administration as manager of Rainbow Stadium (presently Les Murakami Stadium) where he served for three seasons (1985-87). He was promoted to Sports Marketing Director in 1987 where he spent six years laying the foundation for athletic department sponsorships.

In 1993, Donovan was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Administrative Services where he stayed for three years before becoming Associate Athletics Director, a post he has held for six years.

Donovan has played an integral role in the success of UH Athletics in the past 21 years. The most notable include negotiating contracts and assisting in the recruitment of football coach June Jones and baseball coach Mike Trapasso, orchestrating and negotiating the MBNA affinity credit card agreement, and securing title sponsorships for the Rainbow Basketball Classic and Easter Baseball Tournament.

“I have worked with Jim for close to my entire tenure as athletics director at UH,” Athletics Director Hugh Yoshida said. “He has a tremendous passion and love not only for UH but for Hawai‘i as well. His contributions, from the standpoint of working with the day-to-day operations of a $16 million dollar budget, are invaluable. We’re sure going to miss him and wish him the best in his new venture.”

Donovan’s creative mind has also helped cultivate relationships and improve the quality of service provided to the customers of UH Athletics. He is directly responsible for creating the Paradise in the Pacific Golf Tournament, which brings institutional and conference staff, and media members together to brainstorm and relationship building. This has led to multi-game football deals with USC and Brigham Young.

“I have always enjoyed my relationship with Jim,” Brigham Young Athletic Director Val Hale said. “He has been both pleasant to work with and very professional while being someone I could talk to and know he would handle matters very professionally. He always saw things from both sides of the fence and was very fair with UH and the party he was working with. His relationship dates back to his playing days at UH, and I’m glad to hear that he is still going to be associated with intercollegiate athletics.”

He has also increased the use of technology to include the Athletic Department’s website, remote ticketing outlets and phone sales for fans.

“Jim has always made it a point to find a way to get things done and make win-win situations out of it all,” UH Sports Media Relations Director Lois Manin said. “He has a mind that sees no obstacles and an attitude that puts the department first and foremost. He leads with energy, intellect and example.”

Incoming UH Athletics Director Herman Frazier said: “In my short time working with Jim, I think he has done an exceptional job for the University. To have had someone like Jim who was a student-athlete here go on and be successful as an administrator is a tribute to the University and the Athletic Department.”

Donovan’s new position as Executive Director of the newly created ConAgra Foods Hawai‘i Bowl will enable him to remain close to the program he helped build for the last 21 years.

“The two things that were the most attractive to me about this position is the opportunity to work with ESPN which is really the number one brand in sports worldwide, and the fact that I would be able to continue to support UH football and the Athletic Department through the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl,” Donovan said. “I look forward to working with Herman Frazier in my new capacity and help him bring UH Athletics to the next level.”

Donovan is married to the former Tracy Orillo. They have two children, Jacqueline and Joshua.

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