The Univ. of Houston last month named Hunter Yurachek its new AD, and after 14 months as the "No. 2 official in the UH athletic department under close friend and predecessor Mack Rhoades, Yurachek is now in charge of continuing the progress of the past few years," according to Joseph Duarte of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. That progress includes the transition to the American Athletic Conference, the opening of the $120M TDECU Stadium and the "current construction" of a $25M basketball development center. Yurachek in his first month has "met with donors and staff members ... and given a presentation to the UH board of regents on the future" of Hofheinz Pavilion, home to the UH basketball teams. Yurachek said, "This has been the easiest transition of any of the positions I've had." Yurachek said he has a 100-day plan that involves "sharing his vision and direction of the athletic department" with donors. He added that "many items on his 100-day plan have been accomplished from his previous 14 months at UH." Yurachek said that he "wants the UH athletic department to be as transparent as possible with the fan base." That means "being active on Twitter." He also plans to "design a card -- with such information as the athletic department's budget, ticket sales numbers, goals and accomplishments for the year -- to pass out on request." Yurachek's career path has "taken him to a half-dozen schools," including Vanderbilt, Virginia, Western Carolina and Akron. He also was AD at Coastal Carolina, where his four-year tenure "was marked by growth in facilities and increase in athletic revenue." Duarte noted UH "conducted a national search that included 50 applicants before choosing Yurachek." Rhoades said, "He's been at places where you have to fight, scratch, claw and certainly you have to do that at Houston" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/24).
RAINBOW WARRIOR: The Univ. of Hawaii last month also named David Matlin as its new AD, and in Hawaii, Ferd Lewis noted more than "any AD in UH's Division I era, Matlin is tasked with bringing in bucks, not only through the ticket office, but from donors and marketing." It is a "mission that has taken on increased urgency with the arrival" of the new cost-of-attendance measure. Matlin outlined the "case for awarding some form" of COA stipends for scholarship athletes this year. He said that he is "looking for fundraising to play an important part in aiding the financially challenged department." Matlin: "We have actually had some people step up and say they might make a significant contribution of six figures" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 5/23).
