Lassner speaks for first time, but many still question firing of Angelos
Nov 21, 2024
HONOLULU (KHON2) -- University of Hawaii President David Lassner said he decided to fire athletics director Craig Angelos during his annual performance evaluations. It's the first time he's spoken publicly about the move.
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Lassner said it was after surveying stakeholders for the athletic program.
Student athletes and supporters of Craig Angelos were out in force to listen to UH President David Lassner explain the reasoning behind Angelos' firing.
"My job is to make sure this absolutely critical position is held by someone who can lead all aspects of our program with its diverse internal and the many important external constituents into a future that we all know will look very different from the past," said David Lassner, UH president.
He still didn't expand on the school's official reasoning citing performance. However, Lassner said Angelos should've been aware because they met regularly.
"But to believe that my evaluation and feedback was never discussed would be a false assumption, the details of the performance assessments are private," said Lassner. "Mr Angelos was in every one of those discussions with me."
"To me as an athlete, that just sounds like making excuses," said Kurt Nursterer, UH men's volleyball. "And at the end of the day, he has yet to say anything which we've really been asking him to acknowledge, and say what the primary motivation was beyond performance."
Lassner speaks on Angelos dismissal as UH Athletics Director
"For someone who's been so inviting and has made an active input and difference to our athletic journey so far, I'm just shocked that like, that's all he has to say and it's kinda leaving us like left in the dust a little bit," said Jessica Mackenzie, UH track & field.
Mike Kawazoe of the Rainbow Collective, who said he'd pull his support from the school, has done so. His banners are gone from the Simpli-Fi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"If you withhold your support, because you disagree with my decision on what is best for UH as I'm doing my job, and what is best for the program as I'm doing my job, you are only hurting the student athletes and coaches that I know you want to support," said Lassner.
"Facts on the table is Craig Angelos is doing a great job," said Kawazoe. "Student athletes here support him. The coaches support him. And you still let him go. And it's just not good enough."
Another key issue in this whole situation - timing.
President David Lassner said he actually made the decision to fire Angelos a while ago, but did not want to disrupt the schools search for a new president. He added he also wanted to do it before the end of the year when he retires, so he could give incoming president Wendy Hensell a fresh start.
"The next president is coming in, and she's gonna inherit this whole mess that he's made," said Nursterer
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"I assure you I care deeply about the UH Manoa athletics program, and I believe my actions have been necessary, appropriate, and professional based on the information available to me," said Lassner.