Bob Hogue, the longest-tenured commissioner in the history of the Pacific West Conference, will step down on July 1, the NCAA Division II league announced Monday.

Hogue, a former Hawaii sportscaster, state senator and columnist, has overseen the PacWest for 16 years — a period that included the PacWest's growth from seven schools to as many as 14.

The PacWest includes all of Hawaii’s NCAA Division II schools: Chaminade, Hawaii Hilo and Hawaii Pacific. It included Brigham Young University Hawaii before the shutdown of its sports programs in 2017.

The Hawaii schools were a nexus around which Hogue gradually added members, particularly in California. When he first assumed the job in 2007, the PacWest had suffered considerable member attrition and lost its full Division II status. By the next year, he was successful in petitioning the NCAA to have the conference’s automatic qualifiers to postseason tournaments restored.

Hogue, who now lives in Arizona, called it “the best job I’ve ever had.”

"I'm excited about the future of the PacWest,” said Hogue, 69, in the PacWest’s news release. “I truly love this conference and all that we have accomplished during my 16 years with the PacWest. I can't tell you how many great memories I have from over the years — and in the next six months, as I complete this exciting final term, I know we'll create many more.”

The PacWest said its search for a new leader will begin in March with the idea to have a successor in place by the PacWest meetings at the end of May.

In the release, athletic directors at PacWest institutions Azusa Pacific, Dominican University and UH Hilo lauded Hogue for keeping the loose constellation of D-II schools together through tumultuous times that included the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Bob has guided the conference through good times and bad with the student-athlete experience always at the forefront,” UHH's Patrick Guillen said. “He is well-respected by his colleagues across the country for his impeccable integrity and steady hand.”

Hogue oversaw the relocation of the conference’s head office from Hawaii to California in 2011 and helped introduce men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournaments in 2013.

Schools like Grand Canyon, Cal Baptist and Dixie State (now known as Utah Tech) successfully parlayed stints in the PacWest into Division I status during Hogue’s time. There are currently 11 PacWest members.

Hogue has worked on various NCAA committees during his tenure and, since 2019, has served on the NCAA DII Nominating Committee.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.