Chaminade has named Mid-Pacific Institute interscholastics athletic director Bill Villa as its new, full-time athletics director.

He succeeds Kaia Hedlund, who served as AD for two seasons.

Villa's first official day at the school will be July 14. He said his first order of duty will be to meet with coaches and administrators to assess the state of the program.

"We were very successful in men's basketball and women's volleyball last year," Villa said. "We just need to continue to develop so that we're competitive across the board and can recruit better."

Villa said his other priority will be to work with the Hui Ahinahina booster club to raise funds for the program. Last year, the club raised more than $150,000 in support of Chaminade athletics.

In a news release, Chaminade president Sue Wesselkamper praised Villa for his management skills and coaching expertise.

As Mid-Pacific AD, Villa oversaw some 80 teams, competing in 21 different sports. He also helped to establish the school's athletics booster club in 2004. He had previously coached basketball, baseball and soccer.

Villa, a graduate and former coach of Kamehameha, is the president of the Board of Interscholastic League of Honolulu Athletic Directors.

"It's always been a goal of mine to move up in my career and I saw this as a chance to put my name in the hat and see what would happen," Villa said. "There aren't many (AD jobs) in Hawai'i, so when you do find an opening, you need to try."

Villa admits that he will need to quickly learn the ins and outs of recruiting and NCAA compliance guidelines.

"I know I'm looking at a major learning curve," he said.

Still, Villa said he's confident that his strengths will enable him to be effective from the start.

"I think I can bring some relationship-building with administrators, coaches and athletes that will help our program move to where we'd like to be," he said. "To be successful, I think you need good communication, real vision and hard work."