University of Hawai’i men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot is proud to announce that Patty Mills, an Indigenous Australian, five-time Olympian, NBA champion, and 16-year NBA veteran will join the Rainbow Warrior basketball program as General Manager. In this newly created role, Mills will support student-athlete mentorship and development, while contributing to key areas including recruiting, fundraising, and community engagement.
A current member of the LA Clippers and NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Mills is also a longtime resident of Hawai’i, having spent the past decade living on O’ahu’s North Shore during the NBA offseason. In 2019, he married his longtime partner Alyssa in a beautiful ceremony in Waimea Valley, a place that now holds special meaning for their family.
“This is a truly special day for our program,” Ganot said. “The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly and continues to evolve more toward a professional sports model. Our goal is to boldly navigate these times while staying consistent to the values of our program and the values of Hawai’i. Having immersed himself in the island culture for the last decade, Patty shares those values and his love for the islands is abundantly clear.
With his wealth of NBA and international success, both on and off the court, he will help us build our program to its peak potential. There are few people who exemplify what it means to be a caring professional more than Patty. We’re fired up and feel fortunate that he’s taken on this leadership role with us. We know his impact will be felt not only within our program but also across our awesome University and island community.”
Off the court, Mills is globally recognized for his advocacy and philanthropic work, particularly with Indigenous communities in Australia. He is a recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award and the Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award for his continued dedication to social impact and cultural pride.
Mills’ ties to Hawai’i basketball run deep. In 2022, he sponsored the North Shore Classic, a four-team tournament hosted at the Cannon Activities Center in Laie, where UH claimed the title. The event showcased the intersection of basketball, community, and culture—a reflection of Mills’ own values.
“I’m deeply honored to join the University of Hawai’i basketball program as the new General Manager.” Mills said. “This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well. Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawai’i—our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition.
My connection to UH began in 2007 but since becoming a member of the North Shore community, I’ve felt a genuine sense of belonging that reminds me so much of home. I’m truly grateful to be embraced by this community, and I’m committed to honoring that connection by serving our program and representing the values we hold dear. I can’t wait to get to work alongside this incredible staff to give back to the game, grow the game and help build something special for Hawai’i basketball,” Mills stated.
Mills and Ganot’s relationship dates back to their shared history at Saint Mary’s College, where Mills was a two-time all-conference guard and Ganot spent nearly a decade on the coaching staff. Mills made an early impression in Hawai’i as a freshman, earning Rainbow Classic MVP honors while leading Saint Mary’s to the tournament title in 2007.
Throughout his NBA career, Mills has played over 900 games for seven teams, with his standout 2013–14 season contributing significantly to the Spurs’ championship run. Internationally, he’s a five-time Olympian, leading the Australian Boomers to their first Olympic bronze medal in 2020 and serving as Australia’s first ever Indigenous flag bearer. He most recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he moved into fifth place on the all-time Olympic scoring list.
Mills’ addition marks a unique chapter for Hawai’i Men’s Basketball, blending elite global experience with deep-rooted local connection.
