LIHU‘E — As athletics director at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Herman Frazier knows his job is as complex as any, but he definitely likes the challenge. “I look at the athletics director as the CEO of the program,
LIHU‘E — As athletics director at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Herman Frazier knows his job is as complex as any, but he definitely likes the challenge.
“I look at the athletics director as the CEO of the program, there are many different moving parts in athletics — fundraising, budget, academics, human resources, media; the athletics director has to be the person that knows every aspect of it,” Frazier said.
At the 49th Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner for the Contractors Association of Kaua‘i, held last night at the Kaua‘i Marriot Resort and Beach Club, Frazier gave the audience some dessert, as guest speaker. Frazier earned a unique distinction as chef de mission for the United States Olympic Team for the Athens games this past summer.
While at Athens, Frazier noted that there were many challenges and behind the scenes things that were taking place.
“We had to make sure that all of our 500 athletes were accounted for, but our priority was to keep our end drug-free,” Frazier said to the group.
Prior to joining UH-Manoa, Frazier served as athletics director at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. But before that he earned a 1976 Olympic gold and bronze medal.
While at Arizona State, he was an eight-time All-American and captain of the 1977 national championship track team.
Frazier is also a former world-record holder in the indoor 500-meter and the outdoor 4×200 meter relays, former American-record holder in the indoor 400-meter, and the 1977 NCAA 400-meter champion. Frazier graduated from ASU in 1977 with a B.S. in political science. But despite all of his accolades, he considers being in charge at the Athens games, “the second best thrill that he will always remember.”
However, he jokingly mentioned that he would like to forget the fact that there was no “dream team,” referring to the men’s basketball dominance at the olympics, which wasn’t present at the Athens games.
Frazier points to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, as a “golden opportunity” for UH to serve as a training center and to build bridges through camps, clinics and seminars.
“We are in the Pacific, but more importantly, we are a destination,” he said. “And by being a destination, people want to be here.”
Mike Furukawa, Ron Garlie, Raynard Ellis, Tom Shigemoto, Mike and Mark Hubbard, and Ron Peeren, among others were all at the CAK’s 49th Annaul Meeting and Installation Dinner. However, it wouldn’t have been possible without Karen Taketa!
