For those remaining with the University of Hawai’i basketball program, it is all about making the most of an opportunity right now. This includes Brandon Loyd, who suddenly finds himself in a prominent coaching role with the Warriors.
Loyd was brought to Hawai’i to fill an administrative assistant position under previous head coach Gib Arnold. The administrative role includes more office duties than basketball coaching. But after the abrupt dismissals of Arnold and assistant coach Brandyn Akana three weeks ago, Loyd was bumped up to an acting assistant coach under acting head coach Benjy Taylor.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Loyd said. “Obviously when I came out here in July, I had no idea I could be on the floor helping guys work on their games and get better. I look at it as an opportunity that came out of an unfortunate circumstance.”
Now, as one of just two assistants under Taylor (Senque Carey is the other), Loyd finds himself preparing scouting reports, working with the team’s guards, and helping all the players with shooting drills.
“My responsibilities are really to help Coach Taylor and Coach Carey in anything I can do administratively – getting ready for scouts, helping the team out with travel and logistics,” Loyd said. “As far as the players, I’m here for the players. I help them with academics, I help them get shots up when ever then can, just what ever they need, I ‘m here to serve them.”
Loyd is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was a high school All-American player. He signed with UCLA and was a member of four NCAA Tournament teams with the Bruins.
He was most recently a high school coach in Tulsa, but also had previous stints as an assistant at Cal State Los Angeles, and a graduate assistant at UCLA.
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Sophomore forward Mike Thomas practiced on Wednesday with both hands taped up after getting sraped up in a moped accident.
“We haven’t had good luck with mopeds,” head coach Benjy Taylor said. “But he’ll be alright. We need him in there.”
Thomas led the team with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting in an exhibition win over Hawaii Pacific last week. He is still expected to start in Friday’s season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.