Chris King, athletic director at the University of Texas-Pan American, is said to have emerged as a leading mainland candidate for the University of Hawaii AD job.

People familiar with the process said King, 43, had a strong two-hour interview with the search advisory committee and remained on the short list.

Part of his appeal for UH, which is in the midst of an NCAA investigation, is apparently King’s accomplished compliance background. While an associate AD at Alabama, he was praised for helping the Crimson Tide emerge from NCAA sanctions.

King has not returned phone calls or emails from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser seeking comment.

At least one other mainland candidate, Arkansas senior associate AD Jon Fagg, is said to have turned down an invitation to interview.

Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin and UH associate AD John McNamara are also said to be on the UH short list.

King has been athletic director at Texas-Pan American for nearly six years, during which time he guided the Broncos into the Western Athletic Conference and oversaw major facility expansion and renovation. He has been directing the opening of the new University of Texas Rio Grande, which will be the result of a merger between UTPA and UT-Brownsville in the fall. He serves on the NCAA Division I Legislative Council.

Prior to UTPA, King spent seven years at Alabama and four years at Central Florida after stops at Campbell (N.C.) and Liberty.