Patrick Guillen was named University of Hawaii at Hilo director of athletics on August 24, 2015. Guillen began his tenure at UH Hilo after serving as the Director of Athletics at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) from 2005 to 2014.
“Patrick brings a tremendous set of skills and leadership experience to the UH Hilo athletic program,” said then-UH Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney. “He has a strong background in fostering excellence in student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom. He also has years of experience in effective fundraising and communication campaigns. He’s the right person at the right time to lead our Vulcan program forward.”
Excelling in the classroom, winning at the highest levels of competition and engaging in the community make up the “Three Pillars of Success” Guillen has defined to support and develop the student-athletes of the only collegiate program on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
“I am humbled and honored to have this wonderful opportunity,” Guillen said. “Providing the very best student-athlete experience will be our top goal emphasizing academic excellence, strong community engagement and a return to national prominence in athletics. There are challenges ahead and much work to be done but I am confident that with the continued support of our administration, the athletics department staff and our community, we will once again together build a comprehensive Vulcans Athletics program that will bring great pride to The Big Island and the great State of Hawai’i.”
In his first year at Hawai`i Hilo, the Vulcans won the Pacific West Conference Community Service and Diversity Award, the first time that honor has ever been given to a school in Hawai`i. Additionally, he played a large role in securing travel appropriation funding from the Hawai`i Legislature. That, combined with additional fund raising, allowed the Vulcan athletic budget to increase 30 percent.
Guillen also implemented Dr. Suess Day on the Big Island, where Vulcan student-athletes have read books at seven different schools and to 1,800 children.
He served on the NCAA Division II West Region Women's Golf Committee, is a member of the USA Volleyball Special Hearings Committee, is a member of the Rotary Club of Hilo, is on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island and Junior Achievement of Hawaii Island.
In his first five years of leadership, he hired an associate athletic director, a compliance coordinator/Senior Woman Administrator, a head athletic trainer and assistant athletic trainers, a softball coach, two soccer coaches, two volleyball coaches, a men's basketball coach, a tennis coach, and a sports information director. Additionally he created and hired the position of athletic academic advisor.
In the past year, he has helped steer the UHH athletic department through the pandemic, while also overseeing the athletic department's first new building project in over 20 years--the new soccer and softball facilities.
Since his arrival on the UHH campus, Vulcan student-athletes have broken school records for the highest cumulative GPA (3.191) and for their number of PacWest scholar-athletes. Their sixth-place finish in the 2018-19 PacWest Commissioner's Cup was UHH's best showing in over ten years.
At Cal State Dominguez Hills under Guillen’s leadership, the overall CSUDH student-athlete GPA increased from 2.63 in 2004-05 to an all-time high of 2.90 in 2008-09. In Fall 2012 a record 87 student-athletes earned Athletics honor roll status and 75 in the Spring 2013 to give CSUDH its most honor roll recipients (162) in an academic calendar year. In addition, 26 were named to the 2011-12 California Collegiate Athletic Association's (CCAA) All-Academic list.
During his tenure as Director of Athletics, CSUDH teams won two NCAA National Championships (Men’s Soccer, Women’s T&F 4x100), finished as an NCAA National Runner-up once (Women’s Soccer), secured three regional titles and seven CCAA league titles, including the 2012 tournament championship for softball. CSUDH also hosted the 2010 NCAA II West Region Baseball Championship Tournament for the second time in the program's history.
In eight years, the Toros boasted 38 All-Americans, four CCAA Players of the Year and three Academic All-Americans. CSUDH also boasted its highest finish ever in the NCAA II Learfield Director’s Cup placing 45th nationally among all NCAA II institutions during the 2008-09 school year.
Known for his success in fundraising, Guillen’s leadership helped the Toros raise necessary funds for facility enhancements including baseball, softball and volleyball/basketball bleachers, increased advertising, and formulated fundraising plans and strategies which substantially increased CSUDH revenues. Athletic endowments increased nearly 2,000% from $17,000 in 2005 to nearly $600,000 by fall 2013.
Enhanced facility improvements during Guillen's tenure included a remodeled fitness center, gymnasium lobby and training room, a new gymnasium floor and painting scheme, new gymnasium bleachers, baseball and softball safety upgrades, new perimeter baseball fencing, and an updated van fleet.
In the community, Guillen served on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Carson, Susan G. Komen Foundation Board of Directors – LA Chapter, Carson Coordinating Council and served on various committee’s for the South Bay area Chambers of Commerce including the Torrance Latino Business Association Committee. He served the CCAA Conference in numerous roles including serving as the President of the CCAA in 2012-13. Nationally, Guillen is an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association, was named to the NCAA II Women’s Soccer Western Regional Advisory Committee and was selected for a three-year term on the NCAA II Baseball Western Regional Advisory Committee.
In 2006, Guillen began his appointments on the CSUDH WASC Sub-Committee for Civic Engagement, as well as on the University Budget Committee (UBC), which recommended budget requests and allocations to the President of the University.
Guillen's tenure at CSUDH began in 1995 as the Director of Sports Information - Media Relations and then as the Assistant Athletics Director Media/External Relations responsible for fundraising, media, community and public relations, as well as the oversight of all home event management operations. Prior to joining the Toros, Guillen served in a similar position at Vanguard University (formerly Southern California College) in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Guillen enjoyed a successful sales and marketing career in the healthcare industry before entering the collegiate arena, working as the Area Marketing Manager for what was then the largest privately-owned healthcare organization in the country, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Associates, Inc.
Born in Torrance and raised in Carson, Calif., Guillen graduated from Carson High School. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Marketing from Vanguard University in 1987, where he also played baseball.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
» 2024-25 Men's Golf PacWest Conference Champions
» 2023-24 Men's Golf PacWest Conference Champions
» 2022-23 Men's Golf PacWest Conference Champions
» 2022 Women's Soccer PacWest Conference Champions
» 2021 Women's Soccer PacWest Conference Co-Champions
» 2021 Men's Tennis PacWest Conference Champions
» 2012 Women's Track 4x100 NCAA National Champions (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
» 2012 Softball CCAA Champions (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
» 2010-11 Men's Basketball CCAA Champions (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
» 2008-09 Women's Basketball CCAA Champions (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
» 2008 Men's Soccer NCAA National Champions (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
» 2005 Softball CCAA Champions (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
ALMA MATER
» Carson High School (California)
» Vanguard University (California) 1987 - Bachelor's of Business Administration – Management and Marketing
PERSONAL
» Hometown: Torrance/Carson, California
» Sports Teams: Minnesota Vikings
CAREER
2015-Present: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Director of Athletics)
2005-2014: California State University, Dominguez Hills (Director of Athletics)
2002-2005: California State University, Dominguez Hills (Assistant Athletics Director Media/External Relations)
1995-2002: California State University, Dominguez Hills (Director of Sports Information - Media Relations)
1993-1995: Vanguard University (Public Affairs / Sports Information Director)
Previous: Comprehensive Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. (Area Marketing Manager)
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PAT GUILLEN
"For me, getting to know Pat Guillen has certainly been an uplifting few weeks concerning Vulcan athletics. He certainly has me excited about his vision and drive to energize our program with new leadership. We have several mutual friends in basketball, and from them, I have received only positive endorsements that 'Pat is a great fit for UH Hilo.' My own wish is that our entire Vulcan community, including our athletic staff, coaches, student-athletes, our UH Hilo administration and community -- leaders and in general -- will respond to Pat, embrace his leadership, and give him the kind of support he will need to fulfill the promise he brings."
Jimmy Yagi
Former Basketball Coach
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
“I have known Pat for over 20 years. He has a leadership style that develops strong relationships. He understands the nature of collegiate athletics and has the ability to mentor coaches as well as get people engaged in the athletic program. All of which creates a great experience for the Vulcan student athletes.”
Bob Wilson, MA
Director of Athletics
Vanguard University
“Patrick and I share a common bond in that we both started our Athletic Director careers at Dominguez Hills. Having spent many years mentoring him, it’s been an absolute joy to see him grow and, because of his core value system and strong ethics, raise the bar in terms of fundraising, athletic success and student welfare. Without a doubt, the University of Hawaii-Hilo Athletic Department is in great hands.”
Dan Guerrero
Director of Athletics
UCLA
“Pat Guillen is a quality administrator with an outstanding background. He has been successful everywhere he has been and has all of the abilities to lead the UH Hilo Athletics Department to great success. Pat understands the challenges of the coaching staff, and the student athletes will appreciate his care for their well-being and welfare. Student athletes will always come first under his administration. Vulcans Athletics is lucky to have Pat Guillen as their leader.”
Ron Prettyman
Athletics Director
Indiana State University
“Pat is as good a man as I’ve known in my athletic career as a coach. He will guide the program in a positive direction given the support that the University and community have for the athletic department. It’s a win-win situation.”
Dave Yanai
Former Basketball Coach
Cal State Dominguez Hills
