FEATURE: A New Era in Manoa
The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents approved the appointment of Matt Elliott as UH Manoa’s 26
th athletics director. Elliott was selected by UH President Wendy Hensel following a national search and began his appointment, June 30, 2025.
“To the people of
Hawai‘i, to the community, to the coaches, the staff, the student-athletes, I’m honored to be your next director of athletics,” Elliott said. “I’ve been a fan for many years and I’m so excited to now be part of the team. … Together we will build a department that operates on integrity. We will create the best possible student-athlete experience, and we will set our teams up so that they are in a position to win.”
Elliott brings more than a decade of experience in Division I athletics administration, including 13 years at UCLA. There, he most recently served as chief strategy officer, leading the department’s transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten and developing a five-year strategic plan. Prior to that, as senior associate athletics director, his overall scope of work included sport oversight, legal affairs, NIL policy, government relations, head coach searches, compliance and supervision of athletic performance and sports medicine. He was also part of the team that negotiated a $280 million shoe and apparel deal, the largest in college athletics history.
“It is a great day for University of
Hawai‘i athletics,” Hensel said. “Matt simply stood out from the competition right from the beginning. I personally spent an incredible amount of my time getting to know the candidates, understanding the challenges of the athletics department, and thinking about where we need to go in the future to support our student-athletes to the highest possible levels that we can and be winners and competitive, but also ensure that our students leave here with an excellent experience that they're proud to claim and call home. From beginning to end Matt was the guy.”
Elliott and his ‘ohana moved back to Hawai‘i in 2022, and since 2024 he has served as the Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), leading advocacy strategies and working closely with state and local leaders during the last legislative session.
Elliott is originally from Framingham, Mass. He holds a BA from Amherst College, where he competed on the varsity crew team, and earned his JD with honors from Northwestern University School of Law. After law school, he moved to Hawai‘i in 2005 to clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Alan C. Kay. While here, he met his wife, Allison, who was born and raised in Hawai‘i and graduated from Punahou School and Occidental College. This marked the beginning of nearly two decades of connection to the islands.
What they are saying about Matt Elliott…
Micah Kane - Hawai‘i Community Foundation President & CEO
"Matt is one of the strongest leaders I've had the pleasure of working with. He has a rare ability to take on complex challenges, distill them to the essentials and bring people together around a common solution. In a short time at Hawai?i Community Foundation, he's made a lasting impact on work that will continue well beyond his tenure. I have complete confidence that he'll bring a collaborative, values-driven culture to UH Athletics. On top of that, he's simply a joy to work with. Once you get to know Matt, you just want to be part of what he's building."
Martin Jarmond - The Alice and Nahum Lainer Family UCLA Director of Athletics
"Matt was critical to our success during his time at UCLA, and he left a lasting impact on this department. Our transition to the Big Ten was a smooth one in large part due to Matt's efforts. He led our department through the buildout of a comprehensive strategic plan, and we all benefited from his thoughtful analysis and attention to detail. During times of uncertainty and change, he displayed poise, knowledge and leadership, and always remained focused on the student-athletes' best interests. There is no one better to lead Hawai'i Athletics into a new era in the Mountain West Conference than Matt Elliott."
Dan Guerrero, UCLA Director of Athletics (2002-2020)
"Having worked closely with Matt Elliott, I can say with complete confidence that the University of Hawai'i is gaining not just an exceptional leader, but an exceptional person. He is a gifted administrator—smart, strategic, passionate, and laser-focused on doing what's best for student-athletes. His vision, integrity, competitive spirit, and deep respect for the university make him the right person at the right time, especially in light of the changing landscape in intercollegiate athletics. He will be a tremendous asset to President Hensel, the university community, and the people of Hawai'i in so many ways, but most importantly by building authentic relationships with the many stakeholders that touch UH Athletics"
Kelly Inouye-Perez - The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
"For over a decade, Matt brought an immense amount of dedication and strategic growth to UCLA Athletics. Matt did an outstanding job guiding our student-athletes through a time of tremendous change. He was in lockstep with UCLA leadership and coaching staff as we navigated our seamless transition into the Big Ten Conference, which has already been a huge success for our university. I am extremely grateful for his passion and support of UCLA Softball, and I can't wait to watch him succeed in his next endeavor with Hawai'i Athletics! Aloha, Matt!"
DeShaun Foster - UCLA Head Football Coach
"Matt Elliott has been a constant during my coaching career at UCLA. Through all of the changes our sport has seen over those years, he has always been a step ahead and ready for the next move. He is intelligent and brings an enthusiasm to his work that will make Hawai'i proud. I am excited for Matt to receive this well-earned opportunity."
John Speraw - USA Volleyball President and CEO, former head coach of both the US men's national volleyball team and UCLA men's volleyball team
"Matt Elliott is a man I trust. During our years working together, I could walk into his office, often unannounced, and find someone ready to listen and tackle the most complex challenges. He is calm, thoughtful, and always honest. I knew he would tell me the truth. When Matt called to share that he had an opportunity at the University of Hawai'i, my immediate thought was, 'They'd better hire him.' And they did. You've hired one of the finest administrators I've ever had the privilege to work alongside."
