UH to study inter-state community college league

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i will commission a consultant to study whether a varsity athletic program is feasible for the state's community college system.

UH has reportedly reached agreement with George Rush, City College of San Francisco athletic director and football coach, on what is described as "a short-term" project involving a "modest contract" to do a report for president Evan Dobelle.

Information for the report would be compiled this spring and be ready by the time a new UH athletic director takes office in December. The UH system has seven community colleges, none of which has intercollegiate athletic programs.

Rush has spent 25 years at City College of San Francisco, winning two junior college national titles in football. He coached former UH quarterback Nick Rolovich and has sent several players to UH. Rush served as athletic director while Dobelle was president at the school in the mid-1990s.

"Evan believes there are ample students who would want to take part in sports but might not be able at this point to attend Manoa or Hilo," Costello said. "(Community colleges) could be an entry point for them as well as other students from overseas who could go through the community college system and perhaps go on to Manoa or Hilo."

The concept has generated considerable interest among some UH coaches who see the community colleges providing opportunities that local athletes previously had to either go to Mainland junior colleges for or give up on. They also see such a program as a possible feeder system for Manoa's and Hilo's athletic programs.