Davidson is selected as new assistant coach
Brad Davidson, a former shooting coach for the Australian national team, is the latest addition to the coaching staff of the University of Hawai’i basketball team.
The hiring was announced by Hawai’i head coach Eran Ganot on Thursday. Davidson was an assistant coach at South Dakota for the past three seasons. He was also an assistant coach at North Dakota for two seasons.
Davidson, who is originally from Australia, played 13 years of professional basketball in Australia before moving into coaching roles in 2009.
He will be one of two new assistant coaches for the Rainbow Warriors. Former UH player Michael Thomas was named an assistant coach last week.
Here is the official announcement from www.hawaiiathletics.com …
HONOLULU – University of Hawai’i men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot announced the newest member of his staff with the addition of Brad Davidson as an assistant coach.
Davidson boasts nearly a dozen years of combined coaching experience in Division I collegiate basketball and in his native Australia where he previously served as shooting coach for the Australian national team.
Davidson most recently enjoyed a three-year stint as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator with the University of South Dakota. He helped the Coyotes to a 20-win season in 2019-20 and double-digit conference victories in each of the last two years. The Coyotes were also one of the top shooting teams in the country in that same span, finishing in the top 10 in the nation in three-point percentage.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Brad and his wonderful family to Hawai’i,” Ganot said. “Brad is someone we’ve known for a long time. He’s widely respected and possesses top-notch leadership qualities and basketball acumen. He truly understands the significance of player development and has been impactful at all of his previous stops. Brad brings a long history of success as a player and coach and complements our current staff really well as we look forward to working with a special group of players.”
“I’m extremely excited to join Coach Ganot and his staff,” Davidson said. “I first met Coach Ganot through his recruiting travels in Australia. As our friendship developed, I was always impressed by his commitment to developing the values of a true team, his passion for Hawai’i basketball and his appreciation for the support it receives throughout the islands. I’ve been lucky enough to coach in the (SimpliFi Arena at) Stan Sheriff Center. I can’t wait to experience that amazing atmosphere again, but this time as part of the home team!”
Prior to his stint at South Dakota, Davidson was an assistant at North Dakota. While at UND he helped the Fighting Hawks to the 2017 NCAA Tournament – the program’s first-ever bid – after sweeping the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
Davidson got his start in coaching in Australia’s Premier League, serving as the head coach of the West Adelaide Bearcats (2009) and Norwood Flames (2011-13). In 2014, he was named the Basketball Australia national shooting coach and talent identification manager. Based at Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport, he assisted the men’s and women’s national teams for three years. Davidson also recently worked with the Boomers in their preparations for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
A native of Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Davidson played 13 years in the National Basketball League, the top division in Australia. He ranks as one of the NBL’s all-time best shooters with more than 600 career three-pointers and a 40.1 percent career mark from behind the arc.
