HPU names Barnett athletic director/coach
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
J.D. Barnett, who has more than 300 men's basketball victories at four Division I schools, has been named Hawai'i Pacific athletic director and coach.
Barnett, 60, will oversee HPU's 10 men's and women's sports and take over the flagship men's basketball program, the school announced yesterday.
HPU, an NCAA Division II program, is the only university in Hawai'i that has won a national championship in basketball.
"I'm very excited," Barnett said. "If I didn't have the excitement and energy, I would have never taken the position. I would be short-changing the student-athletes if I did that."
Barnett, whose appointment will become effective Aug. 1, is currently Tulane University's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Development and Cost Containment, specializing in cost control and travel arrangements for the Green Wave teams and staff.
Barnett's contract is for three years. The school did not disclose financial details. Barnett's last coaching job was at Northwestern State (La.) in 1999.
"When you're out (of coaching) three or four years, your batteries get recharged and rejuvenated," Barnett said. "I saw this as an opportunity that I love to do. Even though I've been in administration, I've still stayed somewhat involved in basketball. I still think I have a pretty good feel of what goes on out there."
Barnett succeeds Russell Dung, who announced in May that he would retire upon completion of his contract on June 30. Dung is currently HPU's assistant athletic director. Barnett said he has not finalized a coaching staff.
Barnett has coached several college men's basketball programs, including Division I Louisiana Tech (1977-79), Virginia Commonwealth (1979-85), Tulsa (1985-1991) and Northwestern State (1994-99).
"J.D. Barnett has a wealth of experience and success at all levels of college athletics," HPU president Chatt Wright said. "His management and coaching credentials are exceptional, and I am absolutely confident that he will take the entire Sea Warrior athletic program to new levels of success."
Barnett coached two seasons at Louisiana Tech, where he engineered the second-best turnaround in school history, taking a team that went 6-21 in his first season in 1977 and leading it to a 17-8 finish the next year.
In 1979, Barnett became head coach of Virginia Commonwealth. He led VCU to five NCAA Tournament berths, a No. 11 ranking in 1985, and a 135-48 record from 1979 to 1985. He was inducted into the VCU Hall of Fame in 1996.
Barnett coached at Tulsa from 1985 to 1991, achieving a 107-73 record, two NCAA Tournament appearances and two National Invitation Tournament entries.
He returned to coaching in 1994 for five seasons at Northwestern State, where his teams recorded a 92 percent graduation rate. Barnett also served as an associate athletic director at Northwestern State.
Barnett also had coaching stints at High Point College (N.C.), Lenoir-Rhyne College (N.C.) and was an assistant at West Texas State, Richmond (Va.) and Roanoke College (Va.)
Barnett received his Bachelor's and Master's degree from Winona State University (Minn.), where he played basketball and baseball. He was enshrined in the Winona State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Barnett was born in Meadville, Mo.
Reach Brandon Masuoka at 535-2458 or bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.
