HONOLULU – The finalists for the University of Hawaii
Athletics Director position are Ohio State University Senior Associate Athletic
Director Ben Jay and University of California-Berkeley Deputy Director of
Athletics/Chief Operating Officer Solly Fulp.
The two finalists were chosen from a field of over 150
applicants from the position. Each has
extensive experience operating within large budget athletic programs.
Fulp has worked in both the public and private sector
recently. He rejoined Cal last November
after working for ISP Sports and IMG College for the past 3+ years. The marketing and multimedia providing firm has
a wide array of properties and services offered.
Fulp's role at Cal has him managing "both internal and
external areas, overseeing marketing and business development efforts, the
Athletic Ticket Office, event and game day management, and facilities and
operations" according to his bio.
Cal Athletic Director Sandy Barbour voiced support for Fulp,
telling john Crumpacker of sfchronicle.com "As an AD, anytime one of your
colleagues has an opportunity to run their own department, you're thrilled for
them. Solly's a great administrator and
he will be (a great) AD. He's earned
that chance. If it's not Hawaii, it'll
be another opportunity down the road. He's
done great work at Cal and I hope we have the opportunity to continue to work
together, but I also want to help him reach his professional aspirations."
Jay, a native of Columbus Ohio, has been in his current
position at the Ohio State University since 2006. His areas of expertise are in business,
finance, planning and execution of the schools massive operating budget.
His duties also include "overseeing the athletics business
office, facility operations, event management, human resources, information
technology and the OSU golf course and ice rink" according to the school's
website.
The selection of the Athletics Director appears to be "on
target" with the contracted target date of Thursday December 6th, as
set by Parker Executive Search, the firm contracted by UH to assist in the
process.