Vulcans’ soccer program still in limbo

The University of Hawaii at Hilo men’s and women’s soccer programs are in limbo until a new director of soccer can be hired.

Last week, athletic director Dexter Irvin announced that the department’s two coaching positions have been combined into a director of soccer, who will oversee the two programs. Currently, the women’s job is a full-time paid position while the men’s job is a part-time paid job.

During the 2012-13 seasons, the men’s soccer team was coached by Jeffrey “Ziggy” Korytoski and the women’s team by Unity Beddingfield. But both first-year head coaches had their one-year contracts expire May 31 while Irvin waited for the approval to combine the positions into one.

Irvin initially took his request to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, but he was later informed the move only needed the approval of the UH-Manoa president, M.R.C. Greenwood. Last week, Irvin said Greenwood approved the position and the UH-Hilo athletic department would move ahead to fill it.

“We’ll advertise in state and try to expedite the hiring process,” Irvin said.

The UH-Hilo soccer seasons start in early September, leaving little time to hire the director of soccer.

It appears Korytoski, 36, who leaves today for a professional coaching job in Guatemala, may not be in the mix for the vacant UH-Hilo position. He signed a one-year contract with the Antigua Central Guatemala Football Club, and the team’s season begins later this month.

Korytoski said he leaves the potential new UH-Hilo men’s coach with a solid nucleus to build on — with 19 returnees, including eight starters, and eight to 12 recruits.

In her first season with the Vulcans, Beddingfield led her team to 5-12 record, including 3-11 in the PacWest. The squad has 20 returnees and four newcomers for the 2013-14 season.

Beddingfield did not say if she would apply for the director of soccer position.