University of Hawai’i athletics director David Matlin announced that men’s basketball head coach Eran Ganot has signed a two-year contract extension. Ganot originally signed a three-year contract when he was hired in the spring of 2015. His two-year extension runs through the 2019-20 season.
Last year—in his first season as head coach—Ganot guided the Rainbow Warriors to both the Big West regular season and tournament titles and the most wins in school history (28). By season’s end, he not only led UH to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, but also guided the team to an opening-round upset over California for the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
“Eran embodies winning with integrity,” said Matlin. “He’s been a difference-maker for our basketball program as well as our entire department. We’re excited to extend his contract. Eran and his staff are committed to building an elite program here and this extension reflects our commitment to his vision.”
Ganot said: “I’m grateful to David and the University for their unwavering support of our program and our entire Athletics Department. I feel honored to have the opportunity to do what I love at a place that means so much to my family and I. It can’t be measured how much my family and I love this program, school, and the state of Hawai’i. We take great pride being here and look forward to being a part of the Rainbow Warrior family for a long time.”
Ganot was recognized with a pair of national coach of the year awards and was a finalist for several others in 2015-16. The former UH assistant claimed CollegeInsider.com’s Joe B. Hall Award, given to the top first-year head coach, as well as the Red Auerbach College Coach of the Year Award as selected by members of the Jewish Coaches Association (JCA). Ganot also claimed Big West Coach of the Year honors after posting the most wins by a first-year coach in conference history, surpassing the marks held by collegiate coaching giants Jerry Tarkainian and Lute Olson.
Ganot added: “Last season was certainly a remarkable run and it wouldn’t have happened without the support of those in our Athletics Department, our school, as well as our countless fans. We knew there were challenges coming in and that we would embrace those challenges. With a great group of student-athletes and a terrific coaching staff that’s dedicated to their development, we’ll continue to work tirelessly to build a program that succeeds on the court, in the classroom, and out in the community.”
