We reported this as a rumor earlier in the spring. It’s now official…

University of Hawai’i men’s basketball head coach Gib Arnold announced the addition of Senque Carey as an assistant coach for the Rainbow Warriors. Carey, who has coached at the Division I level for nearly a decade, will serve as the program’s recruiting coordinator while also working with the team’s point guards.

"We’re thrilled to have Senque join our staff," Arnold said. "I have known Senque a long time and even recruited him a bit back in the day. I’ve always been impressed by his work as an assistant coach, particularly as a recruiter and his ability to develop point guards. He has a great work ethic and major recruiting ties around the country. He’ll be relentless in his recruiting and his dedication to the University of Hawai’i. We’re very fortunate to have him join our staff."

Carey has gained a reputation as a top-notch recruiter during his various coaching stops along the West Coast, highlighted by a successful stint at Fresno State. He has also coached at Loyola Marymount, Portland State and at his alma mater New Mexico.

"It’s a blessing for the chance to join coach Gib and his staff," Carey said. "I look forward to working with our administration and faculty in a joint effort to build the very best program in the Big West. Aloha Rainbow Warrior Nation!" Carey said.

Shortly after his playing career ended in 2002, Carey began his coaching career at New Mexico as an undergraduate assistant for the Lobos during the 2003-04 season. He then served as an assistant at Portland State for Heath Schroyer in 2004-05. However, it was during his five-year stay (2005-10) at Fresno State under head coach Steve Cleveland that Carey made his mark.

Carey proved key in recruiting and developing numerous elite players, most notably Paul George, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and an eventual All-Star for the Indiana Pacers; as well as 2007 NBA second-round pick Dominic McGuire. He also recruited and guided another NBA prospect in Greg Smith, the 2009-2010 WAC Freshman of the Year. Numerous others players he coached went on to enjoy professional careers overseas.

Carey’s stellar work extended beyond the court as he helped guide a dramatic academic turnaround at Fresno State that produced the largest Academic Progress Rate (APR) improvement in the country, the program’s first Academic All-District honoree and the graduation of ten men’s basketball student-athletes from December 2007 to May 2009, the most during such a span in program history.

Following five seasons at Fresno State, Carey started his own business in 2010—The Basketball Experience, a coaching program that provided training for players at all levels through camps, clinics, private workouts and tournaments. He returned to collegiate coaching last year as an assistant coach for Loyola Marymout and helped the Lions go a perfect 3-0 against Big West competition with wins versus Cal Poly, Long Beach State and UC Riverside.

Carey’s playing career included stops at the University of Washington and New Mexico. He was an Pac-10 All-Freshman selection for the Huskies in 1999, playing all 28 games with 17 starts and averaging 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds with 94 assists. He then transferred to New Mexico and served as the team’s starting point guard in 2001-02 before suffering a career-ending injury the very next season.

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