Warrior Insider

On the day before Thanksgiving, University of Hawai’i basketball head coach Eran Ganot had one more reason to give thanks. He signed a one-year extension to remain at his position, taking it through the 2020-21 season.

“It’s just a true honor and a blessing,” Ganot said. “I remember how great I felt when I got hired, and then to be extended a couple of times is an unbelievable feeling. It’s a great reflection of key people. I can’t wait to get up every day to go to work with the staff I work with, the support staff I work with.”

Financial details of the contract were not announced.

Ganot signed a three-year contract when he was hired as head coach at UH in 2015. A two-year extension was added last year, and now another year is added. The security of the contract could help with future recruiting.

“We have a very clear plan of how we’re going to do things moving forward,” Ganot said. “Everything is about the short term and the long term. We don’t skip steps. We make it clear, our vision, and we’re going to get there.”

The Warriors are scheduled to practice on Thanksgiving Day, then celebrate the holiday together with a team meal. Hawai’i will host Nevada on Friday as part of a basketball doubleheader with the UH women’s team. Ganot described it as “a UH weekend,” noting that the UH football season finale is Saturday against BYU.

“Enjoy the holidays, Happy Thanksgiving, and look forward to seeing you guys at the arena and the stadium,” Ganot said.

Here is the official announcement from www.hawaiiathletics.com …

HONOLULU – University of Hawai’i athletics director David Matlin announced that men’s basketball head coach Eran Ganot has signed a one-year contract extension. His one-year extension runs through the 2020-21 season.

Ganot is in his third season at the helm of Rainbow Warrior basketball team and holds a 45-22 overall record. In his first season as head coach, he guided the Rainbow Warriors to both the Big West regular season and tournament titles, the most wins in school history (28), and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

Last season, despite losing his top eight players and working under a cloud of NCAA uncertainty, Ganot shaped a resilient group of players who defied expectations. Picked to finish second-to-last in the preseason Big West poll, the Rainbow Warriors remained in contention for the Big West title until late in the season.

“We’re very fortunate to have a head coach of Eran’s caliber,” Matlin said. “He’s done a phenomenal job of stabilizing the men’s basketball program and setting a foundation for sustained, long-term success. With great strides having been made both academically and competitively, he’s put together a team of coaches and student-athletes that Hawai’i can be proud of. We look forward to Eran leading our Rainbow Warriors for years to come.”

Ganot said: “My family and I continue to be humbled and honored to represent this great program, University, and state. We’re thankful for our administration, Dave Matlin, David Lassner, the great people at the University, and our incredibly loyal fans. We appreciate their confidence in what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. I also can’t say enough about our terrific players and coaches—both past and present—who have given their all to represent this University in the best possible manner on the floor, in the classroom, and out in the community. While we’ve done some good work, it never stops and we remain committed and inspired to accomplish great things ahead.”

The Rainbow Warriors are currently 3-0 after capturing the season-opening Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic title, their second such title in three years under Ganot. UH next faces Nevada in a battle of undefeated teams on Friday, Nov. 24.

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HAWAI’I (3-0, 0-0 Big West) vs. NEVADA (5-0, 0-0 MW)
When: Friday, Nov. 24, 8:00 p.m. (Hawai’i Time)
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300), Honolulu
Television: Live on Spectrum Sports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: BigWest.TV (Must be a Spectrum cable subscriber to stream in Hawai’i).
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KPUA on the Big Island, KTOH on Kaua’i, and KNWJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Audio Webcast: ESPN1420am.com/Sideline Hawai’i App.
Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: Lower Level – $30 for all seats; Upper Level (prices vary by section) – $18 or $20 for adults, $16 or $18 for senior citizens (65-older), $5 or $7 for students (ages 4 to high school). UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking is $6.
Doubleheader: The UH women’s team will play Marist at 5:30 p.m. Tickets purchased for the men’s game are also good for the women’s games.
Green Out: Fans are encouraged to wear green shirts.