Athletics Director Hugh Yoshida
At the head of the University of Hawai'i Athletic Department administration is a man who has proven his dedication and loyalty to the job. As he begins his ninth year as athletics director, Hugh Yoshida sees a bright future for UH Athletics, one that with the help of the community can prosper even further.
"The future of the program rests on our ability to generate money for our programs," Yoshida said. "And we're accomplishing that with a focus on increased endowment giving. It will allow us to secure the financial stability for our program as we head into the 21st century."
Financial issues are always a concern for the only Division I program in the state, with its nearest competitor a continent away. To alleviate these problems, Yoshida says the athletic department is looking into ways of generating additional income into its nearly $17 million operating budget.
"We're trying to raise the bar from a financial standpoint," Yoshida said, "whether it's scaling the house for ticketing for various sports, or to increase revenues through corporate sponsorships and the community. It will depend on how we are able to provide the financial support that will be required by our coaches to be successful and be able to retain recruits."
Among the many ways the University will try to retain those recruits are plans to increase opportunities for student athletes. With facilities as the primary concern, the athletic department made a conscious effort to build and improve on existing facilities. Under Yoshida's reign, some of the many additions and improvements are the completion of the Nagatani Academic Center, renovation of the football locker room, completion of the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, upgrading all video equipment and the year-round maintenance of the newly renovated grass practice fields.
In addition, through legislative appropriation, the athletic department has ongoing projects to resurface the gym floors for two practice facilities, make renovations at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex, replace the track at Cooke Field, and design, plan and construct new office space for the various athletic programs.
With Yoshida's driving force, the Athletic Department developed "If you let us play," a six-year gender equity plan. In its final year, the plan has enabled the department to meet it goals of reaching full compliance with Title IX. Within the past three years, the department added three women's sports: sailing, water polo and track and field, which evened the participation opportunities to 50 percent female and 50 percent male athletes. Also in the past five years, the women's budget increased from 27 percent of the total budget to 41.5 percent in 2001.
"We're on track with our gender equity plan," Yoshida said. "We still have a ways to go, but we're getting closer to achieving gender equity. We still need to work on the funding aspects and budgetary issues."
Yoshida has also seen the need to showcase the program nationally through television and radio. Contracts with rights-holders KFVE-TV and KCCN Radio, allow the program to be displayed in select states and even around the world. KFVE's affiliation with Fox Sports West provides coverage in California, Arizona, Nevada and Michigan while KCCN's radio broadcasts deliver worldwide feeds via the internet.
"Television and radio plays a big part in how we want to position the University," Yoshida said. "With national and regional exposure I believe it's something that all programs need to have, to showcase their student athletes and their program."
In his expansive career, Yoshida has been a part of memorable moments at the University. He particularly beams about the recent success of the football and men's basketball teams, and the adversity the baseball team overcame after its head coach Les Murakami suffered a stroke prior to last season.
"Some of my proudest moments are when the football team went to the 1999 Oahu Bowl and had the greatest turnaround in the history of intercollegiate football," Yoshida said. "There's also the success of our men's basketball team this past year, making it to the 'Big Dance' after struggling at the start of the season. And when you talk about the value of athletics and how it plays a big part in people's lives, you have to look at last year's baseball team. The trials and challenges that each of our coaches and players went through after the Les Murakami situation really proved the quality of people we have in that program who rose to the occasion despite all of the adversities. I was certainly proud of the players and coaching staff."
As the head administrator for a highly successful program, Yoshida is faced with numerous challenges especially those that can achieve academic and athletic excellence for the various programs.
"But the nice thing about the job is that I get to meet a whole lot of great people who like to help the program," Yoshida said. "There are well-intended and very generous people who provide the kind of resources that will help the program."
As the future of UH Athletics heads in a positive direction, the same can be said for Yoshida as he ponders the conclusion of his 30-plus-year career.
"I'd like to work a couple more years if that's possible," he said. "Retirement is something I really haven't thought about much. But I'm getting to that stage where I need to think about it. I think there are a couple of good years left in me. I'm just focusing on the athletic department and doing the best I can do. When it gets old and no fun anymore, then I think it's time for me to look at other options."
Yoshida and his wife, the former Patti Kiyoi, have been married for 37 years and have three children, Lesli, David and Traci, and one grandchild, Dylan.