When Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple stood before University of Hawaii coaches and staff two weeks ago, he was asked about the timetable for the hiring of a new athletic director.

When Apple, according to one coach who was present, pledged to move the process "expeditiously," there was an audible sigh of relief in the room.

But when Apple said that meant having an AD by January, we’re told some coaches shook their heads. The rest presumably scurried to double check the definition of "expeditiously."

As of Thursday afternoon, UH still had yet to post the job opening on its website, hardly portentous of a timely resolution for the nearly two-month limbo the athletic department has been operating in.

Of course, first things first. Even though former AD Jim Donovan has been working in his new Hawaii Hall job for 25 days, the school has yet to announce a title for that position. No word if a 14-member committee has been formed on that one or if an outside firm will be brought in to consult.

Meanwhile, the acting AD, Rockne Freitas, has been shuttling between the athletic department and his upper campus Bachman Hall job, vice president for student affairs and university/community relations (now, there’s a title), since July 11 with no end in sight.

Fortunately, Freitas has moved quickly, decisively in a number of areas and even broken some new ground benefitting the athletes.

But, at some point — and we’re reaching it — UH needs to give the job more long-term stability than that. It needs to let somebody start making plans more than few months out and set a long-term course and vision. And it definitely should move away from operating by committee, something that hamstrung the last AD and, you suspect, is bogging this thing down, too.

Already in the halls of the athletic department, we’re told Freitas is asked almost daily how long he will have to serve in an acting role. There is little he can tell them. There is little the powers-that-be are telling anybody, if even they know. And the indecision shows.

It showed, for example, in a Wednesday night appearance on KHET’s "Leahey & Leahey Show," where football coach Norm Chow addressed the situation publicly, hinting at his frustration. Chow said he thought a hiring should be done, "the sooner the better. ‘Cause we need (a permanent AD) now. We need that person in place now because we’re all looking for that leadership. We’re all looking for that tough decision that has to be made."

A number of other coaches who lack the clout to jump out in front on the issue publicly will tell you the same thing.

Chow added, "So, we need that person, that governor, if you will, that will (either) hold you back or let you go forward or whatever. We need that person in place."

Asked about the January target date, Chow said, "I’m surprised too when I heard it was January, ’cause I think it should be done next week or tomorrow."

This being UH, maybe the better question to ask is: Do they mean January of 2013 or ’14?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.