One year in, UH Mānoa Athletics builds momentum for the future under AD Elliott

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Matt Elliott completed his first year as University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa athletics director on June 30 after leading the department through one of the most successful years in its history. Championship victories, record fundraising and major milestones highlighted the year, all while creating new opportunities for nearly 500 student-athletes to succeed academically, athletically and personally.

"This first year has really reinforced what makes UH Athletics special," Elliott said. "Our student-athletes inspire us every day with the way they compete, represent our university and serve our community. It's been incredibly rewarding to see so many people across Hawaiʻi rally behind them, and that's something we want to continue building."

A record-setting year

The 2025-26 season featured milestones on and off the field. Rainbow Warrior volleyball captured the program's third NCAA championship in six years, men's basketball won its first Big West Tournament title in a decade to earn an NCAA Tournament berth, football capped a 9-4 season with a Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl victory, and UH teams combined for five Big West championships.

Beyond competition, UH Mānoa Athletics recorded a historic fiscal year. Preliminary figures show the department raised a record $13.2 million-more than tripling the previous year's total and surpassing the department's previous fundraising record. Community support also reached new heights with more than 7,300 gifts during the fiscal year, while licensing revenue approached $930,000, another department record.

Momentum continued this summer with five Hawaiʻi business and community leaders committing $5 million over five years to strengthen name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for UH student-athletes, helping the department recruit and retain talent in an increasingly competitive college athletics landscape.

"Our responsibility is to create an environment where student-athletes can thrive academically, athletically and personally," Elliott said. "That means investing in the people, resources and opportunities that help them succeed while making sure they have an unforgettable experience representing the University of Hawaiʻi."

Positioning UH Athletics for long-term success

The department also expanded access for fans through several major media initiatives. Last fall, UH eliminated pay-per-view for Rainbow Warrior football broadcasts, making games more accessible statewide, while adding broadcasts in Japan. Beginning this season, a new four-year media rights partnership with Hawaiʻi News Now will bring more than 110 home events annually to K5, moving local broadcasts from a subscription-based cable model to free, statewide television distribution. In addition, the new Mountain West's MW+ streaming platform will carry more than 200 UH events worldwide. Revenue generated through Hawaiʻi subscriptions to MW+ will also directly benefit UH Athletics.

Those changes coincide with another significant milestone as UH officially joined the Mountain West as a full member on July 1, positioning most Rainbow Warrior and Rainbow Wahine programs in a new conference beginning this season.

Elliott has also reshaped the department's leadership, hiring new women's basketball coach Khalilah Mitchell and Rainbow Wahine volleyball head coach Joshua Walker, while adding former women's basketball coach Laura Beeman to the senior leadership team as associate athletics director for student-athlete success. Contract extensions for football coach Timmy Chang, baseball coach Rich Hill and men's basketball coach Eran Ganot have also helped provide continuity heading into the new conference era.

Looking ahead, Elliott said enhancing the student-athlete experience, strengthening community partnerships and continuing to grow support for UH Athletics remain his top priorities.

"We've made real progress over the past year, but we're just getting started to navigate a new era of college athletics," Elliott said. "As we begin this chapter in the Mountain West, we're focused on creating even more opportunities for our student-athletes and our fans. 'Our Team, Hawaiʻi's Team' is more than a slogan. It's a commitment to bringing our community together and building a program the entire state can be proud of."