Former University of Hawai'i football player Jim Donovan, who has long nurtured a career goal of being athletic director at his alma mater, has been recommended for the position to the school's Board of Regents.

Donovan's name yesterday appeared on the regents' agenda for next week's meeting following a recommendation by Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw, who headed the nine-member search committee to replace Herman Frazier.

The 15-member Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday at Honolulu Community College, and approval of Donovan to oversee operation of the state's only NCAA Division I athletic program is expected, UH officials said.

Hinshaw has recommended a five-year appointment beginning Thursday and running through March 12, 2013. Financial terms were not listed but Donovan is expected to receive close to the $250,000 base salary of his predecessor.

"I'm aware that my name has been listed on the regents' agenda and in respect for the process, I will withhold comment until next week's meeting," Donovan said.

However, the news was greeted with jubilance in the Donovan family, which has long known of his dream of heading the UH program, something he has had his eye on for more than 20 years, friends say. His parents, James and Mary in California, and extended family here are making plans to be on hand for the regents' meeting.

Donovan, 48, spent nearly 20 years at UH as a football player, graduate assistant coach, manager of Les Murakami Stadium, promotions director and administrator, including six as associate athletic director for what has become a 19-sport, $26.6 million operation. He has been executive director of the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl since 2002.

Donovan was a two-year starter on the offensive line under coach Dick Tomey in the 1981 and '82 seasons.

"I'm thrilled to death for him," Tomey said. "He is well connected in the business community, he and (wife) Tracy are well loved at UH by everybody I've ever run into and he's well respected by the coaches."

Kent Untermann, a teammate of Donovan's and a prominent businessman and booster, said, "Jim is an incredibly passionate, hard-working, driven individual and will do a wonderful job for the university."

If approved, Donovan would replace Frazier, whose turbulent 5 1/2-year tenure was terminated Jan. 8, the day after head football coach June Jones announced his departure for Southern Methodist University.

Donovan, who helped then-athletic director Hugh Yoshida bring Jones to UH in 1999, was a candidate for the AD job that went to Frazier in 2002 but did not get an interview from that committee.

"I thought that was a tragedy last time," Tomey said.

This time around, Donovan was interviewed extensively by both the committee and Hinshaw.

Hinshaw declined comment until the regents meet, but noted through a spokesman that Donovan was both her personal choice and that of the committee. Some committee members said they had been advised not to comment until the regents meet.

Tomey, now San Jose State's head coach, was mentioned as a possible candidate but did not apply. He applauded the choice of Donovan. "It worked out just perfectly," Tomey said.

Associate AD Carl Clapp, who also was a candidate to replace Frazier, has served as interim AD since Frazier's termination at an annual salary of $227,808. Frazier is being paid a $312,510 settlement under terms of his contract for the termination.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.