Frazier won't seek UW job

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier said he has taken himself out of consideration for the same job at the University of Washington.

"I have no interest," Frazier said yesterday.

Frazier said he had been contacted twice by Baker-Parker and Associates Inc., the firm hired by UW to assist in its search for a replacement for Barbara Hedges, who retired under fire in January.

"At this point, I am not a candidate for the University of Washington (job)," Frazier said. "My job is the University of Hawai'i; this is where I want to be as long as people here want me to be here."

The Seattle Times had reported that Frazier, who has been at UH since Aug. 1, 2002, was among those "being considered." The Times cited an anonymous source in the report.

Frazier said he was initially contacted about two weeks ago and then again last Friday. Frazier said he told UH president Evan Dobelle of the contact.

"I told them (Baker-Parker) I was happy and thrilled to be considered for, I think, one of the top 10 jobs in America," Frazier said. "But I told them I have not made up my mind. They then continued to pursue me and I told President Dobelle that I had no interest in leaving and I enjoyed the position I have here at the University of Hawai'i. I think we've made some tremendous strides over the last two years in spite of budget situations and that we will continue to do the best job we can here."

Frazier said he interviewed by UW in 1991 for the position that went to Hedges.

Frazier, 49, was an associate AD at his alma mater, Arizona State, and had been considered for jobs at ASU, Oregon and California before taking the AD job at Alabama-Birmingham in 2000.

Frazier, a U.S. Olympic vice president, is serving as the USOC's Chef de Mission (in charge of the entire 800-plus member U.S. team, including athletes, officers and support personnel) for the Summer Olympics in Athens.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.