The University of Hawaiʻi announced Friday that former Rainbow Warrior standout and 11-year Major League Baseball veteran Kolten Wong has been named Special Advisor to UH Athletics.
The Hilo native and two-time Gold Glove winner will work alongside Athletics Director Matt Elliott and UH baseball head coach Rich Hill. In the role, Wong will support recruiting, player development, community outreach, and special projects for both the athletics department and the Rainbow Warrior baseball program. He will also serve as an advisor, ambassador, and resource for senior leadership on broader initiatives.
“Kolten Wong embodies everything that makes Hawaiʻi Athletics special,” Elliott said in the university’s announcement. “Few individuals understand the privilege and responsibility of wearing Hawaiʻi across their chest like Kolten does. His big-league pedigree, character, and genuine love for this community will make an immediate impact on our student-athletes as they strive for excellence both on and off the field.”
Wong expressed enthusiasm for returning to a program that shaped his career. “I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the University of Hawaiʻi and a baseball program that means so much to me,” he said. “I want to use the knowledge, experience, and relationships I’ve built throughout my career to help our players develop, both on and off the field.
“My goal is to help create new opportunities for our program by working closely with our players, supporting our donors, developing creative ways to generate resources for facilities and NIL, and finding ways to keep more of Hawaiʻi’s talent home. I believe there is no more special place to play baseball than Hawaiʻi, and I want to do everything I can to make sure our players, recruits, and community recognize that. This is about building something that our state can be proud of, creating a stronger future for Hawaiʻi baseball, and giving our local talent every reason to stay home and represent the place they love.”
The appointment brings one of the most decorated figures in Hawaiʻi sports history back to Mānoa. Wong, a member of the UH Sports Circle of Honor Class of 2025, played for the Rainbow Warriors from 2009 to 2011. He earned first-team All-American honors in 2011 and Freshman All-American recognition in 2009, collecting three consecutive all-conference and all-region selections while helping Hawaiʻi claim back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles in 2010 and 2011.
Over three seasons in Manoa, Wong batted .358 with a .563 slugging percentage, ranking third all-time in school history in the latter category.
Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Wong went on to play 11 seasons in the majors with the Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Renowned for his elite defense at second base, he captured Gold Glove Awards in 2019 and 2020 and appeared in more than 1,100 big-league games.
Wong’s return is expected to provide immediate guidance for current student-athletes, prospective recruits, and the program’s administrative efforts as Hawaiʻi continues building its baseball program.
