Incoming University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay made his first local media appearance today.

Jay, 55, comes most recently from Ohio State where he was in charge of finance in the athletic department.

His starting date is Jan. 14 and his base salary is $293,000 per year. Jay has a five-year contract.

“One of the first things I’ll do is sit down with the staff,” Jay said. “There’s still much for me to learn.”

Jay replaces Jim Donovan, who was suspended and reassigned to another job last summer in the wake of a scam in which UH lost $200,000. In a subsequent investigation Donovan was cleared of any legal wrongdoing. He was recently hired as athletic director at Cal State-Fullerton.

Rockne Freitas has served as UH acting athletic director since July. Freitas, who is a UH vice president, did not apply for the permanant AD position.