Community college news: Hokanson named AD at OCC

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - The interim title from Fred Hokanson’s job has been

removed as Orange Coast College announced Tuesday he is the school’s

Athletics Director and Dean of Physical Education. Hokanson, who held the

position on an interim basis since January, after his predecessor, Jane

Hilgendorf, retired, says he is focused on maintaining, what he called,

“the Orange Coast College tradition.”

“We are the best community college in Orange County,” Hokanson said.

“It takes good people to make that standard stay there. Jane Hilgendorf

did a great job. I just want to continue the work that she really got

going.”

He announced Barbara Bond, who coaches women’s soccer and badminton,

will serve as assistant athletics director.

Hokanson, who was hired in 1969 as a full-time physical education

instructor and an assistant track and field coach, said he’s excited

about accomplishing the goal of hiring four new OCC coaches. The new

positions include, assistant football coach, men’s basketball head coach

and head dance instructor. The men’s track and field coach will be

announced soon, Hokanson said.

“We have a real good shot of carrying on a real fine tradition,” said

Hokanson, who became the head track and field coach in 1978 and held the

position through the 2000 season. “We’re going to hire four people. We’re

going to influence Orange Coast College, the physical education and the

athletics, for the next 15-20 years. What a great goal that I’m going be

able to help accomplish.”

Hokanson admitted he was not sure of taking the job on a permanent

basis when he began in January.

“It’s really bigger than I had anticipated,” he said of his job. “I

thought I would be able to get out of the office a lot more. I didn’t

realize how many meetings I would be involved with.

One of the things that I’m excited about is the support that we have

from our administration,” he said. “Margaret Gratton, the college

president, is really supportive. All of the administration has been

great.”

Hokanson said there is but one negative about his new job, but he’s

willing to make the sacrifice.

“I’ve been a person that’s had summers off,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m not going to have that this year. That’s a drawback.”

For six years prior to becoming Athletics Director and Dean of

Physical Education, Hokanson served as assistant athletics director and

was responsible for the athletics budgets. He has served with several

organizations and committees at Coast, including Academic Senate,

Planning and Budget Committee and Land Utilization Committee.