HONOLULU — Weeks of interviews and cross examinations were relatively easy for Matt Elliott compared to the waiting game that followed.

UH first announced him as the pick of President Wendy Hensel on June 5 as part of its agenda posted more than a week out from the June 16 UH Board of Regents meeting at the Manoa campus. In the official UH release, Elliott gave some statements about his enthusiasm for what was to come, but he was off limits for interviews.

He was officially, finally confirmed as the new UHAD via a unanimous vote by the UH Board of Regents on Monday and he will formally step into his new post on June 30 with a five-year contract and $425,000 base salary.

“The only part I haven’t really liked is these last 10 days just waiting,” Elliott, 48, said Monday of the search process with a laugh. “And I just say that as a human being; I just wanted to get going. Being patient is a little bit tough at times, but I understand the process.”

It was apparent before the board meeting that Elliott’s digital presence was minimal for a person to hold prominent jobs in and out of college athletics; he was a former 11-year UCLA associate athletic director with 13 total years at the school and since 2024 was an officer for the Hawaii Community Foundation.

After his Bachman Hall introduction alongside his wife Allison, where he spoke with a quiet conviction of his vision for the Manoa athletic department, Elliott was happy to sit down for interviews with Hawaii media outlets, including Spectrum News.

The following is a breakdown of that half-hour Q&A session in five main areas: Allocation of UH’s limited resources at a challenging time in college sports; his leadership style and personality; his formative moments as a UH sports fan; his personal life and path to Hawaii; and his thoughts of the AD search process itself.

At the time of the interview, Elliott had not yet met with UH coaches and student-athletes, but he said he was eager to do so in the coming days.

Note: The following conversation has been condensed for clarity.

APPLYING UH RESOURCES

Q: How will it be allocating resources at UH compared to where you came from at UCLA?

A: I just think it’s all relative, right? We want to be the best possible school. We want UH to excel at the highest level in the conference that we’re in, in the competition that we have, but know that we are pursuing championships no matter what, whether those are conference championships or national championships, right? I mean, we have teams at that level, so I think you just look at what is your space. How do you use those resources the most effectively? Look at your peers, right?

A lot of the work that I want us to do over the course of the next year is, what does it mean to compete? Where are you doing in football? What does it mean to compete in basketball or baseball, or whatever the sport is at that Mountain West level? What are our peers doing? How are they investing in their student athletes? And that’s the work, right? So if you can get yourself ready by understanding the background, then you put together your plan, and at the end of the day, you make do with what your resources are.

But it’s also my job as an athletic director to go out and grow that pool, right? I have to go out and I have to raise money, and our staff has to go out and raise money. We have to take advantage of corporate sponsorships. We have to sell tickets. All of those things can add to our budget, and then tell our story again, to this community, to our legislature, to our entire administration, to our government to say, ‘this is what you’re investing in.’ This is why it’s so important. (UH) is everybody’s team, right? If we can be successful, then everybody’s successful, and everybody’s a part of that. So if that’s the job, that’s what we have to do, and we do it right now.

Q: None of your predecessors has dealt with student-athlete revenue sharing but you get handed that immediately. Can UH command the national cap of $20 million or offer something in between?

A: I think the cool part for me is none of this is new, right? In 2012 the California Legislature passed the student athlete bill of rights. And I was part of that. I was already working directly with the legislature on that bill. … If you look back at the history of college sports, and you know, we’ll see who writes the book about this. And then we moved into the cost of attendance, and we moved into transfer portal, and all these steps.

I’ve been thinking about this for a very long time, and the idea of revenue sharing is not new in any way. We’ve been talking about whether or not student athletes would get paid or some piece of revenue for a decade now. So that, to me, is ‘okay, we get it. We knew this was coming. How are we prepared for it?’ When you ask the question about the resources, where are we going to be? The starting point is you opt into the settlement, because you want to make sure you’re at the same table. You’re part of the big conversation about what’s going on. So that means we can share up to $20 million in this first year.

We’re agreeing to roster limits. We are taking away scholarship, limits. And then you say, Okay, well, what are the resources that we have? Let’s put them all into a big pot, right? I know there are collectives here in this community, just like everywhere else. What is the most efficient way to allocate those resources?

Now we’ve got a story. Now we’re telling our donors, anybody who wants to support this program, ‘your dollars can do this. It can help recruit student athletes. It can help retain student athletes. It gives us the chance to be competitively successful.’ So I don’t know what that number (this first year) is. … I need time to get up to speed.

It’s a different way of doing the business. But I also know this isn’t the end; $20 million in revenue sharing is not our final version of this. We’re going to continue to see how (the government and NCAA evolve). The rules will continue to change, and we have to be really nimble to be prepared for that.

I’m an extraordinarily competitive person, so I want to go out there and win in that and to see people who want that same thing.

Q: Do you have to declare a certain amount ahead of time your total for Year 1 of revenue sharing?

A: I don’t think that’s how it works at all. I think you have to opt in, right? Then you start making relationships, then you start talking to student-athletes about what promises you’re going to make them. … I believe this is in progress, but at some point you have to have a contract. There actually is a contract between the university and the student-athlete. ‘This is what we’re going to promise you.’ But my understanding is completely that you can continue to raise money and put it into that pool right over the course of (a year). It’s always open, you’re always contributing to that pot. You just know you have a cap. You can’t go over that.

Q: What do you remember about experience of UCLA going to the Big Ten?

A: What I remember about that is that UCLA choice was, No. 1, a bold choice, and No. 2 predicated on, we want to continue to be in an elite athletic department to give ourselves a chance to compete for national championships. And everything we do is just like we are right now. And that comes with, you need resources to be able to do that.

We were talking to our student athletes constantly, and they were saying, we’d love to have more nutrition, whether it’s training tables, things like that. We need more mental health services. We need help with academic support and travel, right? So all of that costs money, and the opportunity to go to the Big Ten represented a way to create some financial security, to create those resources, to be able to do those things, because you want to be in Final Fours, right, ike the women’s basketball team was this year. So that’s the thought process that went into it. But then it’s about, okay, now the clock starts. You’ve got two years to be ready to get into this Big Ten. And our mindset was, we’re going to prepare so that we’re ready to win when we get there.

One-hundred percent parallel situation (to) right now, whether it’s the revenue-sharing piece or whether it’s moving to the Mountain West, we’re going to do the same thing. We’re going to get ourselves ready so that we can make this transition and be there, that we can be successful. We’re winning conference championships right now. We’re competing for national championships. None of that should change, because we’re going into a new conference, and we should be the standard in that conference. That’s our job. Our job is to be the best school we can be in the Mountain West and whoever we’re competing against.

So having that mindset and working through that plan, not only did we plan to transition to the Big Ten, but we put together a five-year strategic plan for the athletic department to address all of the issues that go along with that.

Q: How much up-front cost do you foresee in trying to deliver on some of these things here before additional resources come in?

A” I don’t know about here, because I just haven’t looked at the books. I haven’t done any of that work yet, but it’s a great question, and it’s something that I think maybe you’ll ask me that in a few months, and I’ll have a much better way to answer that. But yeah, I think it is about investment and showing that the community and everybody is behind the program that’s the way to be successful.

LEADERSHIP STYLE

Q: What do you want people to know about your leadership style?

A: I think I like to build a consensus. I’m a problem solver, and then I like to set a strategy, and I want everybody to be a part of that. So if I can get input from as many folks as possible, I will do that. But then I want us to come up with a plan, and everybody’s got to get on board, right? So you may not love every decision we make. There’s gonna have to be hard decisions, but I want everybody to be aligned and saying the same thing and talking the same way, that’s coaches, that’s staff.

It’s just like a coach thinks about a game, right? They scout and scout and scout and then they put their game plan together, and then they expect their team to go out and execute it. I think that’s the same thing we do as an athletics department.

Q: Your predecessor Craig Angelos had vocal support from a large segment of the UH fan base. How will you try to win them over?

A: I think the commonality is they’re fans of UH. That’s what we are going to focus on … not about who’s in the job. It’s about we all want the same thing. We want UH to be successful. We want our student-athletes to be successful. We want to give ourselves a chance to win. I feel strongly that’s what our fans want. What are we all doing to give these guys, to give these ladies, the best chance to be successful? That’s what matters to me. And I think that we’re going to be very successful with that.

Q: Do you have any social media?

A: Never really been on social media. I think I had Twitter account when I first got to UCLA. I used it for a couple years just to say congratulations to our teams. I probably did like, 10 tweets in my life. (laughs) That was a long time ago. But no, I’ve never, I just never been engaged in social media.

Q: Have you kept a low profile in the local community?

A: I first came here (to Hawaii) 20 years ago, but for the last three years I’ve been here, I was working remotely. So I was going back and forth to California and to Chicago for Big Ten meetings. So I wasn’t really yet fully immersed in the professional community. I was still doing a lot of the work for UCLA. But I think in terms of being out there in the community, being with my family, you know, Alli’s friends and her family, that was our priority, that was our focus in getting connected here. So it’s really only been in the last year (with the) Hawaii Community Foundation that I’ve met so many additional people. I’ve met folks at the legislature, in our government offices, people that support our community in so many amazing ways, philanthropists and donors. So that’s where I’ve really, I think, been able to build those professional relationships that are probably a little bit different than just working remotely and still being connected back to California.

A: Do you think your approach to community outreach changes when you formally assume the job?

A: I think communication is critical, absolutely critical. So whether it’s my social media account or we have a strategy of how we do it together, that’s what we’ll start to work on as a team once I meet the team and all the folks that work inside. But I think if we’re not telling our story, if we’re not getting alignment around what is our plan, what is our strategy, and then having everybody say the same thing, then you then you face real challenges, so that it will be incumbent upon us, and really a priority for the communications department to figure out, okay, what is the way in which we are going to message the successes of our student athletes, our plans to prepare for this Mountain West transition? What are we doing when it comes to revenue sharing?

All of these things have to be told to the community. Because if you want folks to support you, if you want them to be on board and be part of the journey, then you got to show them what is the impact of their commitment going to be and what are the outcomes we’re trying to achieve. So I believe strongly in telling that story. I want our entire staff to be fluent in what we’re doing and being able to tell that story.

BECOMING A UH FAN

Q: Why did you want this UH job?

A: I just believe so strongly in the power of college athletics and … what it means for students and their opportunities, what it means for a community. I’ve loved college sports for a long time, and I’ve worked really hard to learn and grow in that system. I was also extraordinarily privileged to be at HCF. They do tremendous work. I loved working for Micah (Kane) and working with for Michelle (Ka’uhane) and that entire team there, one of the most valuable resources that we have in this community, and how they bring people together.

But when this opportunity came up to be able to have an impact in this college sports world, to do it at a university that is world class, to do it in a community that I care so much about, that I want my son (5-year-old Kai) to grow up in and thrive, and be able to see his role models on the field and be on the sideline like we want that for all of our kids. We want that for our whole community, right? To me, that’s everything came together at just sort of this perfect moment.

Q: What was your introduction to UH sports in the mid-2000s?

A: I got here at the end of 2005 and the Pro Bowl was within weeks of when I got here. So that was really cool to be at Aloha Stadium. But after meeting Alli, we started going to volleyball games together. Her parents have always been huge fans. I actually went to the pro some of those pro baseball games that they had here during the summer … and we went to at least one football game (UH versus Oregon State on Dec. 2, 2006).

The passion (of the volleyball fans) is fantastic. But then to actually see everything come together in Aloha Stadium, to be part of that traffic jam, to get into the stadium, the hours of tailgating, then going inside, like, that’s big time. That’s passion that that excites me to no end. Actually got the chance many years later that Alli and I were in LA when you won the national championship in (men’s) volleyball. So that was ‘22 I think, and our son was there with us. He’s this little tike, this little guy. People are giving him ti leaves for us to wave. We’re dressed up, all UH gear. The band is playing. The UH fans traveled so incredibly well. It was like, oh my God, this is fantastic. So I have a job at UCLA at the time … they weren’t playing each other, but obviously I still have my allegiances there. But at the same time, to see that passion, UH fans are incredible, and I know that when many teams come here, they are overwhelmed by that support, and that’s pretty cool.

My family and my wife have been such passionate supporters of this program that of course that’s going to get into my blood as well.

Q: Did you go to the UCLA-UH football nationally televised game last year, which some consider the best game atmosphere seen at the Ching Complex to date?

A: I was at the game. It was sort of the last week that I worked at UCLA, so it was nice to be able to be there with all my colleagues and friends. I agree — I was impressed by the environment. I thought it was really electric. It was a great game. From the standpoint of a competitive game, to be very close right down to the end, and that’s what we have right now, right? That’s the environment that we have to deal with.

It was great for my son to go out on the baseball field and be able to play and do all those pregame activities. I thought the food vendors were excellent, and that was exciting. I think that the staff and the people in this university have really been creative to try to find solutions.

We have to just continue to amplify that environment. … Football season is coming. We want to replicate that kind of environment, that that feeling, to get everybody ready and say, ‘okay, let’s be there. Let’s sell this thing out.’ We should, right? That’s got to be our goal — have it full every single game, because that’s what our student-athletes deserve, and that’s what makes it so special for people to come together.

PERSONAL LIFE AND PATH TO HAWAII

Q: Something people don’t know about you?

A: I’ve become a cyclist over the last few years, and that’s kind of like the way I think it’s a nice way to kind of get along, get out on your own, be able to exercise, use your energy. I participated in the Honolulu Century Ride this past year, which was phenomenal. So cool to be a part of that community to train for. It’s the biggest endurance thing that I’ve ever done.

When you have a 5-year-old son, you spend so much of your time running around, doing the things that they do, and that’s just a place where I get to kind of pause and reflect a little bit as I get out on the road.

Q: How did you get into rowing?

A: I played sports my whole life, growing up primarily in high school. My sports were soccer, wrestling and tennis. I just wasn’t good enough to play soccer in college. I would have loved to, but they had a rowing program, the crew team, and so I always said that I want to continue to be an athlete. I want to continue to participate.

It’s kind of always been a great balance for me the sports and the school. So went out for the team (at Amherst University) and participated as a as a first-year novice, and then was on the varsity team. And you get that sort of work ethic, getting up at 5 a.m. every day, getting out on the water, the balance of being able to do your academics and crew at the same time, and just, I love camaraderie. I love being around a team, being a part of that. So I learned the sport while I was in college and participated in it while I was there.

Q: What was your original path to Hawaii?

A: I came here almost 20 years ago for the first time for a job and just the opportunity to be in this place. I thought it was really amazing and special. I learned a lot about the culture, learned a lot about the systems — the legal system and how it operates here, and how unique Hawaii is from that standpoint, its history. I was so fortunate to meet Alli, obviously. I mean, what could be better than to meet the person that you know you’re going to spend the rest of your life with?

And so that year, I get to connect with her family, connect with her friends, and clearly, we were going to be together.

(Now) we’re here with her family, her parents are still here, her brother, aunties, uncles, cousins, all those kinds of things. And it’s through that. And it’s just like it happens organically … this is my family. This is the place that means so much, the culture means so much. The history means so much. And I think people care about this place in a way that is just unbelievable. I love, I love, I love how proud everybody is to be from Hawaii, of Hawaii, to take care of the land, to take care of the resources, to carry on the culture, the language, all of those things. So that matters to me. We’re going to raise my son here, because we want him to have that experience, to be exposed to all of those things.

Three years ago, when we decided to make this change, it was very much about putting our family first. It was about prioritizing where we wanted to raise our son, be around family, all those people that matter so much to us.

THE SEARCH PROCESS

Q: Was the UH AD search process intensive or manageable?

A: I think it was very well run. I think it was manageable. What I liked about is that I met so many different people throughout the process because I wanted to better understand this job. I wanted to better understand this university, and I got so many different perspectives along the way about how we should do things, about what are our priorities.

And it’s great to get that perspective and that input. So I feel like it was measured. It didn’t feel rushed like we were running around like crazy. It very well planned out in terms of the steps. The only part I haven’t really liked is these last 10 days just waiting. (laughs)

I also understand the process. I know that there are reasons why we do things the way that we do things. I completely respect that. I think everybody needs time to digest and make the right decision. That’s how I certainly am going to lead things as somebody’s going to want to want to collect information.

President Hensel, the search committee, the outside search firm that they hired, I give them a lot of credit, because I think they were very, very wise in how they set this up. And I think it benefited me a lot, honestly, it will make me a better AD, certainly, as I get started, based on the exposure that I had to all these people.

Q: What was it like Meeting Gov. Green and Mayor Blangiardi through the search process?

A: Absolutely, I think those relationships are critical. I really valued the opportunity to spend time with them. These are complex problems that we have in complex obstacles to make athletics successful here you have multiple layers of government to be involved in (it). They’ve both shown … a true passion for UH athletics, and belief that we should and can take bold action. As the landscape changes, we have to do that. We can’t get left behind. We have to support this program. So I think that was extraordinarily valuable to be able to talk to them, but also to know that we will be able to work together going forward.

Q: What can you say about your alignment with President Hensel?

A: (Hensel) has said from Day 1 that she’s looking for somebody to be there, her partner. I think the same way as a teammate to be able to navigate this space together. And of course, you’re 100% right. You need alignment between your president and your athletics director, and then that brings in all the other constituents as well. Your regents, your governor, your mayor, your legislators, all those folks getting on the same page. But it certainly starts with her, her cabinet and the athletic director being on that same page.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.