Interim UH president backs athletics
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
David McClain, the University of Hawai'i's interim president, said he believes the system's two intercollegiate athletic programs, Hilo and Manoa, "are working pretty well (and) I see no reason to make any changes."
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
McClain, the UH vice president for academic affairs who had been serving as acting president when Evan Dobelle was out of town, was thrust into the presidency of the 10-campus system for an indefinite term when the Board of Regents dismissed Dobelle Tuesday night.
David McClain, center, enjoyed a laugh with Herman Frazier and Vili "The Warrior" at last year's Murphy's Warrior Pigskin Pigout.
"I think Herman (Frazier, the Manoa athletic director) is doing a terrific job leading our athletic enterprise, and I would say the same thing for Kathy (McNally) over on the Hilo side," McClain said. "So, my sense is athletics is in good hands. We have some really exciting athletic teams, we have some terrific coaches and some very dedicated fans. That sounds like it is working pretty well to me."
McClain, 57, said, "I'm completely committed to the student-athlete and the athletic missions of both UH-Hilo and Manoa."
McClain, a specialist in Asian economic matters, has been dean of the College of Business Administration, vice president for academic affairs and interim vice president for research during his 13 years at UH.
McClain's previous interactions with the school's athletic department have included being head of the selection committee that helped choose Frazier as athletic director and as the chairman of the committee on fiscal integrity for the department's NCAA certification.
"(McClain's) relationship has been a very positive one, a very supportive one. I greatly admire him," said Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, associate athletic director and senior women's administrator. "He's been to several of our receptions and represented the president. Because of his role in the certification process, he's familiar with some of the inner workings of the athletic department."
Men's basketball coach Riley Wallace said, "I think he'll be good (for athletics) and the school. He knows what's involved in athletics, what it takes (to win). He's a good guy. He and his wife go to a lot of the games — they sit across from me (at Aloha Stadium). In fact, he has bought some of my extra (football) tickets when I have them."
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl executive director Jim Donovan, who served as associate athletic director at UH and was a graduate student of McClain's said, "Dave is an extremely intelligent individual who has always supported athletics. I believe he will continue to support athletics as he always has."
McClain played basketball at St. Joseph's (Mo.) High and said he briefly considered pursuing a professional bowling career after graduating from the University of Kansas.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
