Financial questions on the Hawaii sports scene have never been more relevant than on the first day of 2016. The University of Hawaii athletic program continues to operate with a multi-million dollar deficit but promises frugality, as it transitions with a new athletic director and football and men’s basketball coaches headed into their first full calendar year.

Money ball also will continue to be the biggest concern for just about all of the state’s other athletic ventures, from operating youth and high school sports to attracting and continuing to host sports tourism events like the NFL’s Pro Bowl and the PGA’s Sony Open. There are rumblings of a big rumble, as the fervor of Hawaii’s MMA fans and campaigning by contender Max Holloway from Waianae has UFC president Dana White considering a card here this summer.

And what about facilities? Gov. David Ige is content to kick the stadium conundrum down the road again this year as governors have before him, not daring to run with that political football.

The same can be said for UH athletics. Ige and others who depend on votes for their jobs rank public funding of college sports a low priority. With autonomy in play, sports is supposed to get its money from the university’s cut. But upper campus has its priorities, too, and another athletics bailout is not among them.

So, the new AD, David Matlin, must rebuild public confidence with a limited budget. While the selection of Nick Rolovich as head football coach might be the best bang for the buck, June Jones supporters say bringing back the program’s winningest coach would’ve filled seats and attracted sponsors.

That is debatable, but this is not: A UH sports financial recovery requires a losing football program to turn the corner on the playing field and then at the turnstiles. It won’t happen in the opposite order.

2. Stay down or fight back

By Wednesday, UH must inform the NCAA if it will appeal sanctions stemming from its investigation of the Rainbows basketball program. If it does not appeal and next year’s postseason ban stands, players — including four solid contributors who will be seniors next year — can transfer without sitting out a year.

Hawaii is 10-2 under new coach Eran Ganot and considered a contender for the Big West championship this spring. But next fall could be bleak if the strong junior core moves on.

3. Will Gaison impact preps?

As Blane Gaison settles in as the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s new executive director are significant changes afoot on the high school sports scene?

He’s an experienced and respected leader. We’ll see if he can work with his public school leagues counterparts to make progress on issues like competitive balance, recruiting and officiating. … and, of course, finances.