Donovan got unanimous approval from the university's Board of Regents Thursday afternoon, then met with the press to talk about the direction of the program.

"I'm very honored and humbled to be up here representing something that means so much to the people of Hawaii," Donovan said in opening his press conference.

Donovan fought back tears while speaking. He showed emotion that developed during a 27-year relationship with the university. That relationship began in 1981 when Donovan played on the UH football team.

He later held several jobs within the athletic department, but left in 2002 to run the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

Former UH Athletics Director Herman Frazier was fired a little more than two months ago, and Frazier's departure gave Donovan a shot at his dream job.

"It's nice to come back home and be at the University of Hawaii Manoa and be in charge of the athletics department where I spent so much of my adult life growing up, Donovan said.

Coaches and even a former athletics director who attended Thursday's press conference believe Donovan is the right man for the job.

"I think it's an excellent choice. Mainly I think Jim has a really good heart and he's a Rainbow Warrior," said UH Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji. "He's a Rainbow. What can I say. I think he bleeds green."

"I think we have a leader that will get after it. Roll up his sleeves and go do what he has to do to get things better," added Warrior football coach Greg McMackin.

"I think Jim is an individual that understands the situation at the university and he's a perfect fit as far as being able to work with the staff and address all the issues and take this program to the next level," said former A.D. Hugh Yoshida.

Donovan has agreed in principle to a five year contract worth about $240,000 a year. He will not be on the payroll until March 24, but says he will immediately begin to work on his top priorities.

"One is to sit down with the coaches and find out what they need and the staff and start to develop a plan to take care of those needs. I think the second is the budget, to find out how bad it has accumulated a deficit and what it looks like for this year and what it looks like going forward. I think the last one (priority) is probably just moral," Donovan said.