HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Athletics Department announced Eric Mathews as the new Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement. Mathews most recently served as UH's assistant media relations director since 2018.
 
"We are excited to announce our new Director of Marketing, Eric Mathews," Athletics Director David Matlin said. "Promoting someone from within is important to us and we appreciate the search committee for their due diligence and efforts.  The marketing team has been short staffed since the fall season and we have appreciated their patience and dedication during this time. Eric will make an immediate impact and provide much needed support and direction."
 
Mathews came to UH in 2018 to serve in his media relations role after spending time at 10 different colleges and universities, ranging from the NAIA level to every level of college athletics, including seven Division I institutions. He began his career in broadcasting while working in sales and marketing before making a move to media relations fully in 2015. Before coming to UH, he served as the director of sports information at Kentucky State University.
 
"I'm about as fortunate and lucky as one can be," said Mathews. "To go from being a die-hard UH football fan from the mid-2000s to now giving back to the fan base is something you don't hear about, and I'm living it."
 
As assistant media relations director, Mathews was the primary contact for the two-time Big West champion women's basketball program along with several other teams. He also leads UH's social media efforts which has consistently ranked among the top Group of 5 schools in the country.
 
Mathews's wide-ranging experience and love for UH are what brought him to the islands while sparking his interest in the director position.
 
"For years I rode buses with several teams throughout the Midwest and in the South, listening to Bobby Curran and Robert Kekaula while reading stories by Stephen Tsai. The goal was to get here, learn, enjoy it, and help if ever called upon. During my time, I've done that. Now, I get to work one-on-one with fans, helping create an unforgettable experience every time they walk into our venues. We're going to create that experience by listening and thinking about things from a fan's perspective."
 
In 2022, Mathews spearheaded UH's social media campaign "Operation Greg Luzinski" which won College Sports Communicator's ChangeMaker Innovation award. The award recognized forward-thinkers who bring new ideas to life through special content, branding, messaging, new storytelling, social media initiatives, and more.