Hawai‘i Extends Head Coach Eran Ganot Following Big West Title
By Kennedy Choo
After weeks of rumors circulating around Mānoa, University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball head coach Eran Ganot has agreed in principle to a contract extension, keeping him and his family in the islands for the next few years.
Since taking over the program in 2015, Ganot has built a consistent winner. He burst onto the scene with a school-record 28 wins in his first season, highlighted by an upset over the University of California in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Since then, he has reached 200 career victories, recorded three 20-win seasons in a four-year stretch, and made two NCAA Tournament appearances, joining Riley Wallace as the only coaches in program history to lead the ‘Bows to the tournament multiple times.
This past season, Ganot led Hawai‘i to a 24–9 record and a Big West Conference championship, earning another postseason berth.
“I want to thank President Hensel and Matt Elliott for the opportunity to continue leading this program and for their incredible support of our vision,” said Ganot. “My family and I love this university and this community. We are eager to build off our recent Big West Championship as we prepare for the challenge of moving into the Mountain West Conference. I fully understand the responsibility that comes with guiding this program; our goal remains to win at the highest level and represent Hawai‘i with pride.”
“In navigating the transfer portal and the evolving NIL landscape, Coach Ganot has proven to be the right leader for our future as we transition to the Mountain West Conference,” said Athletic Director Matt Elliott. “He has cultivated a ‘student-first’ philosophy and ensured our student-athletes excel in the classroom and the community.”
Along with the program’s success on the court, Ganot has developed multiple All-Big West players, including three this past season: center Isaac Johnson (first team), guard Dre Bullock (second team), and guard Hunter Erickson (honorable mention). Off the court, his teams have consistently posted strong Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores, often ranking among the nation’s best while setting program records for team GPA.
Though contract details have not yet been released, the extension signals long-term stability for the program as it prepares for its move to the Mountain West.