The search is over.
The search is over.
David Matlin has been named the new athletics director of the University of Hawaii. UH Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman made the announcement on Wednesday at a press conference at Les Murakami Stadium.
“I believe, during these challenging times for UH Athletics, that David has the proven executive leadership experience, vision and passion to stabilize and grow the program,” said Bley-Vroman. “We were searching for someone with the ability and agility to lead us through this complex and important period in the evolving national collegiate athletics landscape, and I am confident that we have found that person in David.”
Matlin said that he is honored and humbled to have been selected as UH’s next AD.
“This is honestly my dream opportunity and I understand that there are many challenges ahead,” said Matlin. “I am confident that with the support of the athletics department staff, UH leadership, and the entire state, we will be successful. I humbly ask the people of Hawaii, and UH fans all over the world, for their support to ensure that UH Athletics not only survives, but thrives.”
As a former employee of the UH athletics department, an MBA graduate from the Shidler College of Business and a local business leader with more than 20 years of sports management experience in Hawaii, Matlin has a deep appreciation for the significance of the role that athletics plays in the success of the University and in the lives of the people of Hawaii.
Matlin’s last 13 years of affiliation with ESPN and managing the Hawaii Bowl, Diamond Head Classic and the Hawaiian Islands Invitational has allowed him to build relationships with NCAA conferences, athletic directors and national organizations. He is one of nine members on the Executive Committee of the Football Bowl Association, which is the national organization established to promote, protect and ensure the quality of the student athlete experience for all college bowl games. Matlin is well respected among local and national constituents in the field of sports, specifically within intercollegiate athletics.
The recommended salary for the new AD will go before the UH Board of Regents for final approval at the April 16 meeting.
“I’m deeply appreciative of the tremendous feedback from campus and community members on this critical leadership position,” said Bley-Vroman. “Please join me in welcoming David as he takes the helm of the state’s NCAA Division I women’s and men’s athletics program and our 21 major sports teams.”
This is Matlin’s second stint at the UH Athletic Department after serving five years (1994-99), as an information officer primarily working with the ticket office, while also enrolled in the school’s MBA program. While working at UH, he was instrumental in developing and integrating information technology to assist with sales and distribution of individual, group and season tickets for all of UH’s ticketed programs.
Matlin graduated from the University of Michigan in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts. Soon after graduating, he started his career as a marketing operations manager for the Houston Astros. In three years, he created operating procedures for the stadium information systems, promotions and special events. He was also in charge of divvying up over $3 million in local, regional and national sponsorship programs. In his fourth year, at the age of 26, he was promoted as the youngest Director of Sales in Major League Baseball. Matlin oversaw a staff of 16 and handled renewals and new sales of both group and season tickets, skyboxes and luxury suites. In just two years, new season ticket sales increased by 35%, and he was instrumental in developing the Diamond Level seating area which netted an additional $700,000 in ticket revenue in 1993.
After six years with the Astros, Matlin moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he was the assistant general manager/director of marketing of the Arts Center Enterprises and The Majestic Theatre. There, he honed his marketing skills in advertising and promoting Broadway shows, musical concerts and comedy acts.
Matlin became the vice-president of m2c and the director of operations for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in 2002. He has also provided management consulting for Panda Travel, Sodexo, and AIO Group. He focused his efforts on business development and client training. In 2008, he created DAKM Enterprises, Inc. and was named the Executive Director of both the Hawaii Bowl and later the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Matlin is also the president of Value Travel Hawaii.