Baseball legend named special advisor to Hawaii athletics

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - University of Hawai’i baseball legend and 11-year Major League Baseball veteran Kolten Wong has been named special advisor to UH Athletics.

Wong will serve as a trusted advisor, ambassador and resource for both the athletics department and the Rainbow Warrior baseball program.

“My goal is to help create new opportunities for our program by working closely with our players, supporting our donors, developing creative ways to generate resources for facilities and NIL and finding ways to keep more of Hawai’i’s talent home,” Wong said. “I believe there is no more special place to play baseball than Hawai’i, and I want to do everything I can to make sure our players, recruits, and community recognize that. This is about building something that our state can be proud of, creating a stronger future for Hawai’i baseball, and giving our local talent every reason to stay home and represent the place they love.”

He will work directly with Athletics Director Matt Elliott and the department’s senior leadership team on special projects, while also serving as a key asset for Baseball Head Coach Rich Hill’s program in the areas of recruiting, player development and community outreach.

“Kolten Wong embodies everything that makes Hawaiʻi Athletics special,” said Athletics Director Matt Elliott. “Few individuals understand the privilege and responsibility of wearing Hawaiʻi across their chest like Kolten does. His big-league pedigree, character and genuine love for this community will make an immediate impact on our student-athletes as they strive for excellence both on and off the field.”

Wong’s career

Wong’s appointment brings one of the most decorated figures in Hawai’i sports history back to Mānoa.

A member of the UH Sports Circle of Honor Class of 2025, Wong’s extensive experience at the highest level of professional baseball will provide important guidance for current student-athletes, prospective recruits and administrative leadership.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the University of Hawaiʻi and a baseball program that means so much to me,” Wong said. “I want to use the knowledge, experience and relationships I’ve built throughout my career to help our players develop – both on and off the field.”

During his collegiate career with the Rainbow Warriors from 2009 to 2011, Wong established himself as one of the greatest players in program history.

The Hilo native was a first-team All-American in 2011 and a Freshman All-American in 2009, earning three consecutive all-conference and all-region honors while guiding Hawai’i to back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles in 2010 and 2011.

Over three seasons in Manoa, Wong compiled a .358 career batting average and finished ranked third all-time in school history with a .563 slugging percentage.

Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft, Wong went on to enjoy an outstanding 11-year major league career with the Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Renowned for his elite defense, Wong earned two Gold Glove Awards at second base (2019, 2020) and appeared in over 1,100 big-league games.