The University of Hawaii is poised to announce changes in its athletic leadership, with Craig Angelos expected to part ways with the institution. Initially reported by Hawaii News Now, Angelos, who has served as the university's athletics director since June 2023, will be dismissed as of December 1. This decision comes directly from UH President David Lassner, who is himself preparing to step down by year's end.
Despite having ushered most UH teams into the Mountain West Conference, Angelos' tenure in the position has lasted merely 18 months. KHON2 Sports sources suggest that Angelos was not under contract; as an at-will hire, he could be released from his role at any time. The specifics of the departure remain unclear, while the university maintains silence on the subject, and Angelos himself has not responded to comment requests.
A department-wide meeting is scheduled for this afternoon, as noted by Spectrum News, which will likely address the imminent transition of leadership within the UH athletic department. The meeting quickly follows a tumultuous weekend for UH sports, with the football team suffering a 55-10 defeat at the hands of Utah State.
Athletic department staff were informed of the meeting via email yesterday. Additionally, a pre-scheduled head coaches meeting is expected to take place this morning. "What's interesting is he's making this termination, Lassner, within weeks of his retirement," Jeff Portnoy, a former UH Board of Regents member, expressed his intrigue over the timing to Spectrum News.
Angelos, hailing from Salt Lake City and an alumnus of BYU where he played baseball, brought to UH a varied administrative background, including a stint as senior deputy AD at Long Island University and securing a 30,000-seat stadium at Florida Atlantic University. His approach differed from his predecessors and, during his short-lived leadership, he initiated several new hires and was exploring ways to increase department revenue. UH officials have yet to provide further details on the matter.
