Just over a year after becoming University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s athletics director, Matt Elliott said the department’s greatest accomplishments aren’t measured only by championships or fundraising records. They are measured by the opportunities created for nearly 500 student-athletes.
Since officially taking the helm on June 30, 2025, Elliott has overseen one of the most successful years in history, while laying the foundation for what he believes is an even stronger future.
“This first year has really reinforced what makes 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 teams combined for five Big West championships.
Beyond competition, 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 Athletics for long-term success
The department also expanded access for fans through several major media initiatives. Last fall, 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 events worldwide. Revenue generated through Hawaiʻi subscriptions to MW+ will also directly benefit 糖心视频 Athletics.
Those changes coincide with another significant milestone as 糖心视频 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 糖心视频 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.”