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# SMC’s AD moves on to new college
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/smcs-ad-moves-on-to-new-college/
- Published: 2008-08-22T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:48:37.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*SMC AD to take on new program at College of the Canyons this year*

SMC Four years after being hired as the athletic director of Santa Monica College, Rhonda Hyatt will depart at the end of this month to take a faculty position at College of the Canyons.

Hyatt, who as athletic director was responsible for 16 intercollegiate athletic teams, will head the new Recreation Management program at College of the Canyons.

The jump to the school in the Santa Clarita Valley will allow Hyatt to be closer to her home from where she has been commuting two to three hours a day to SMC.

“I have lived in Santa Clarita for 25-plus years and will for the first time have a job that allows me to work in and serve my community,” Hyatt said.

She came to Santa Monica after a 20-year career at California State University Northridge, serving at different points as the head athletic trainer, assistant athletic director and later associate AD. Hyatt was also the primary clinical instructor for the athletic training professional education program in Northridge.

While Hyatt will be moving back into the classroom, she expects to return to college athletics again.

“This is a position that will improve my own quality of life and will provide an opportunity for more student contact, and an opportunity to create a new program from the bottom up,” Hyatt said.

As the head of Recreation Management, and its sole faculty member, Hyatt will be the architect for the entire program.

“She’s a one-person department and it’ll be up to her to take it and run with it,” Len Mohney, the dean of physical education and athletics at College of the Canyons, said.

The program is set to offer two courses this fall, one that focuses on recreation and leisure and another on planning.

Students will learn everything from the inner-workings of cruise vacations to corporate team-building activities, the courses applicable to virtually all majors and career goals, Mohney said.

Mohney, whose department will oversee the Recreation Management program, said Hyatt was hired because of her strong leadership skills.

“She has an excellent (record) working with outreach and in dealing with the city,” he said. “She was a perfect fit.”

The college has not yet named an interim athletic director or begun the process of finding a replacement, according to Michael Tuitasi, the vice president of student services.

“Hopefully we’ll get a permanent person as soon as possible,” he said.

Hyatt said she came to Santa Monica College with the goal of re-establishing the solid operational foundation for the athletics department, restoring the campus and community’s support for the program.

“I think I was successful, but all of these goals are ongoing and have to be continually advocated.”

Richard Goldenson, the head coach for the women’s tennis team, said Hyatt kept the entire athletic department well informed about various policies and procedures guiding college athletics, calling her monthly staff meetings “incredibly valuable and educational.”

“It’s a big loss for SMC athletics, but she left us in good shape,” he said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 22, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/082208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)