In his new job of University of Hawai'i athletic director, out-going Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl executive director Jim Donovan hopes to expand ties with ESPN and see David Matlin succeed him with the bowl.

Donovan, who has headed the bowl since its birth in 2002, was named to head the UH athletic program yesterday and threw support to Matlin, who has been the game's director of operations. "David has been a key component in growing the bowl game," Donovan said.

Prior to helping start the Hawai'i Bowl, Matlin was in the UH athletic department for six years and also worked for the Houston Astros. His father, Lew, is a former general manager of the Hawaii Islanders.

Pete Derzis, vice president of ESPN Regional Television, which owns and operates the bowl, said it would be "premature" to say who will succeed Donovan but said he plans to have extensive talks with Matlin about the bowl's future and its management.

"David has been a major contributor to the success of the Hawai'i Bowl," Derzis said. "David and I will talk next week and formulate the best management plan we can for moving the game forward."

Derzis said "We're absolutely thrilled for Jim and his family. We know of his love for the University of Hawai'i and feel he'll do an outstanding job there."

Donovan and Derzis both said they hope to expand upon the ties developed over the past 5 1/2 years. Reportedly, that could take the form of ESPN becoming involved in a UH-hosted basketball tournament.

"We're going to have some preliminary talks on how we can possibly leverage the relationship," Donovan said. "To say any more than that at this point would be getting ahead of ourselves. But ESPN loves Hawai'i and are very committed to growing the Hawai'i Bowl."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.