Don Weir named new executive director for Na Koa

HONOLULU—The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation in partnership with ʻAhahui Koa Anuenue and the University of Hawaiʻi Athletics Department, have created the new position of executive director for the school‘s football booster club, Na Koa. Dr. Don Weir will assume the position beginning on Monday, March 2.Weir, a two-year letterwinner in football in the 1970s, is the current volunteer booster president for the UH Letterwinners Club. As executive director of Na Koa, Weir will coordinate the booster club‘s fundraising campaign that supports the annual operational needs of the Warrior football program."We are very pleased and excited that Don Weir has agreed to take on this criticalresponsibility for Na Koa and the University of Hawaiʻi football program," Na Koa President Rick Blangiardi said. "We are confident that Don‘s passion and commitment to Warrior football will create unprecedented success for our coaches and team.""Don will do a great job as our new Na Koa executive director," head coach GregMcMackin said. "He has an excellent work ethic, is a great person, cares about theUniversity of Hawaiʻi, the state of Hawaiʻi and our program. He is the final piece of the puzzle to take Na Koa to a higher level.""Having seen firsthand Don‘s work as president of UH Letterwinners Club, I amconfident of his abilities and leadership," Athletics Director Jim Donovan said. "Inaddition, from a personal level, I am excited that Don, as a former UH football player, has made a commitment to come home and give back to his team and university."Na Koa was founded in 1987 by Alec Waterhouse, Ed Wong, and Ben Yee. The Na Koa board consists of Blangiardi, Chairman Emeritus Ben Yee and other community leaders who govern and manage the operations of the organization.

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. Our mission is to unite our donors‘ passions with the University of Hawaiʻi‘s aspirations to benefit the people of Hawaiʻi and beyond. We do this by raising private philanthropic support, managing private investments and nurturing donor and alumni relationships. Please visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.

Na Koa (the Warrior) Football Club is the UH Mānoa football booster club. It provides support for players and coaches by providing equipment, dietary assistance and funds for scholarships, academic support and tutoring. Na Noa is a leading booster club of all UH Mānoa sports programs coordinated through ʻAhahui Koa Anuenue, non-profit affiliate to the UH Foundation for UH Mānoa athletics.

ʻAhahui Koa Anuenue is the University of Hawaiʻi Athletics Department‘s primary fundraising organization. Established in 1967, AKA manages the preferred seating program and athletic booster club programs for Mānoa athletics, and works in partnership with the UH Foundation for major and planned giving opportunities which benefit all athletic programs at UH Mānoa. For more information on the preferred seating program or to learn more about AKA‘s other programs, please visit our website at www.KoaAnuenue.org.