Former UCLA administator Matt Elliot recommended for Hawaii athletics director job

HONOLULU - After a thorough national search that saw input from multiple constituents, University of Hawai’i President Wendy Hensel has recommended Matt Elliott to be the next UH-Mānoa athletics director, the school announced Thursday morning. 

Elliot, who spent 13 years in the UCLA athletics department, will still need to be confirmed in a vote by the UH Board of Regents (BOR) in a special meeting that is expected to be held on June 16. The BOR will also vote to approve Elliott’s proposed $425,004 salary with additional performance-based incentives, which is a higher wage than previous athletic directors of the university. 

“I’m excited to welcome Matt, with his extensive experience in Division I athletics and strong roots in Hawaiʻi, to the UH ʻohana,’” Hensel said in an official statement. “Our student-athletes, coaches, staff and dedicated fans will find Matt to be an exceptional leader with the passion and expertise to elevate UH athletics and guide us through the complex challenges facing collegiate sports today.” 

If Hensel’s selection of Elliott is approved by the BOR, Elliott will begin his appointment no later than July 1, and will take over the responsibilities of interim AD Lois Manin, who has been acting in the role since outgoing UH President David Lassner fired previous AD Craig Angelos due to “performance.” 

Elliott’s most recent work experience saw him operate as the Hawai’i Community Foundation Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs. Prior to that, Elliott worked for over a decade in the UCLA athletics department, holding four different titles that included associate AD positions in Compliance and Internal Operations. 

His last position title with the Bruins was Chief Strategy Officer, where he helped oversee UCLA athletics’ move from the PAC-12 conference to the Big Ten that included a three-phase process from 2022-2024. Elliott’s experience in that venture will likely help UH in its transition from becoming a football-only member to a full-time member in the Mountain West starting in July 2026. 

Originally from Framingham, Massachusetts, Elliott received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College and got his Juris Doctor (JD) degree at Northwestern.

Prior to his time at UCLA, Elliott worked in Honolulu as a federal court law clerk and was a Litigation Associate for a law firm in Boston. During his time in Hawai’i, he met his wife Allison, who was born and raised in Hawai’i and graduated from Punahou.

“Hawaiʻi holds a truly special place in our hearts, and it was important to us to raise our son here,” said Elliott. “This is home for our family, and it is inspiring to serve a place and a community we love so much. I’ve followed the UH program closely throughout my time at UCLA and HCF, and have always admired the passion of the fans. The Rainbows have one of the most loyal followings in the country, and UH teams represent the very best of Hawaiʻi.” 

Hensel, who took over Lassner at the start of the calendar year, began the official search for the new AD in early April. It was led by a 10-member search committee co-chaired by UH BOR Chair Gabriel Lee and Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation Chair Jack Tsui. The committee partnered with nationally-recognized firm Parker Executive Search to help with the process. 

“This was the most engaged, thoughtful and well-rounded search committee I’ve ever worked with at the university,” said Jack Tsui, co-chair of the search committee. “We had excellent support from Parker Executive Search and deeply appreciated President Hensel’s active involvement throughout. We prioritized Division I experience, fundraising ability and local ties, and I’m confident we’ve selected a leader who truly understands UH, the values it represents, and has the leadership skills to lead us in a rapidly changing environment.”

There was significant national interest, with over 110 interested applicants. From the pool of candidates, the committee identified 10 semifinalists for interviews. Four finalists advanced to the final stage, which included meetings with the committees, an advisory group that included a student-athlete, coaches, faculty, staff and administrators, and one-on-one interviews with Hensel.

“I thought the process was extremely thoughtful and thorough, and the committee members were all deeply committed to finding the best possible athletic director for UH Mānoa,” said search committee member Artie Wilson, a former UH men’s basketball player, Spectrum Sports analyst, co-founder of the UH Letterwinners Club, and founder of Artie Wilson & Associates. “The search firm was also very professional and helpful throughout the process. With the support from all the university communities I believe Matt can lead us to achieve great success in all sports. I’m excited to do my part to assist him along this journey.” 

As part of the final evaluation process, the finalists also met with Gov. Josh Green and Mayor Rick Blangiardi.

“I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved, especially the search committee for its commitment and thoughtful work in identifying strong candidates for this critical role,” said Hensel. “Their deep dedication to UH Athletics and to Hawaiʻi was evident throughout the process, and their insight and collaboration were instrumental in reaching this outcome.” 

What they are saying about Matt Elliott

Micah Kāne—Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 U.S. 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 Hawaiʻi, 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.”