UH-Hilo coach fired after arrest

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

Laron K. Kortgaard, part-time men's tennis coach at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo, has been fired for failing to show up for work since March 15, missing practices and a meet and failing to inform the administration of his absences.

"This is unacceptable," said Athletics Director Kathy McNally. The termination was effective yesterday.

McNally yesterday faxed a copy of the termination letter to Kortgaard's home and to the federal detention center where the 45-year-old was being held after his arrest last week on charges of growing marijuana in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

He had been found to have two earlier drug convictions, which did not show up when the university hired him in January on an uncontracted, "casual, temporary" basis at $3,000 a year.

Temporary hires do not have to answer questions about convictions, as full-time employees do, but the university may change that policy, said Paul Costello, UH vice president for external affairs.

"This certainly made us aware of the hole here," said Costello. "We need to look at a procedure where this doesn't happen in the future."

Costello said even if the policy is changed to ask temporary hires for background data about felony convictions, decisions still will be made on a case-by-case basis. Someone may have been convicted of a crime with no bearing on the job in question, he said.

U.S. public defender Michael Weight, who is representing Kortgaard, had no comment on the letter, saying he had no knowledge of it.

In her letter, McNally also asked Kortgaard to return any UHH property. She has taken over the duties of head tennis coach.

Reach Bev Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.