Eran Ganot Earns 200th Career Victory as Head Coach

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Eran Ganot Earns 200th Career Victory as Hawai‘i Makes History

HONOLULU — University of Hawai‘i men's basketball head coach Eran Ganot reached a major career milestone Friday night, earning his 200th collegiate coaching victory as the Rainbow Warriors dominated Bethesda University, 116–44, in the opening round of the 60th Annual OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

The milestone came during a historic performance for the Rainbow Warriors, whose 72-point victory established a new program record for the largest margin of victory, surpassing the previous mark of 67 points set against BYU–Hawai‘i in 1962. Friday's milestone victory featured a balanced offensive performance, with all 11 Hawai‘i players who saw action scoring. Zack Davidson led the Rainbow Warriors with 20 points, while seven players finished in double figures.

Of Ganot's 200 career victories, 197 have come during his tenure at Hawai‘i, while three were earned as acting head coach at Saint Mary's College before taking over the Rainbow Warrior program in 2015.

Now in his 12th season leading Hawai‘i, Ganot has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in program history, ranking second on the school's all-time victories list behind legendary head coach Riley Wallace.

Ganot's tenure has included two Big West Tournament championships, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2016, when Hawai‘i upset California in the opening round.

Most recently, Ganot guided the Rainbow Warriors to a 24–9 record and the 2026 Big West Tournament championship, sending Hawai‘i back to the NCAA Tournament before its transition into the Mountain West Conference.

Beyond the victories, Ganot has helped build a program emphasizing academic success, player development, and community involvement. His work with Coaches vs. Cancer has also made a lasting impact throughout the islands.

The Rainbow Warriors return to action Sunday, November 8, against UT Arlington at 5 p.m. HT as they continue their pursuit of a third consecutive Rainbow Classic championship. 

Hawai‘i Men’s Basketball Unveils 2026-27 Schedule, Eight Games Set for National Television

HONOLULU — The University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team has officially unveiled its 2026-27 schedule, setting the stage for a historic first season in the Mountain West Conference.

The Rainbow Warriors will receive increased national exposure in their new league, with eight games selected for national television as part of the Mountain West’s new media agreements. The conference’s national television partners include CBS Sports, FOX Sports and The CW. 

The schedule comes as Hawai‘i enters a new era following 14 seasons in the Big West. UH officially became a full Mountain West member on July 1 and will play an 18-game conference schedule featuring several familiar opponents from the program’s former Western Athletic Conference days.

A New Era in the Mountain West

Hawai‘i’s first Mountain West campaign will begin with a challenging three-game road swing. The Rainbow Warriors open conference play at San José State on Jan. 2 before traveling to UC Davis on Jan. 5 and Nevada on Jan. 9.

UH will make its Mountain West home debut against Air Force on Jan. 12 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Other notable home conference matchups include Wyoming on Jan. 16, New Mexico on Jan. 26, UC Davis on Jan. 30, UTEP on Feb. 6, Nevada on Feb. 20 and Grand Canyon on March 2. The regular season concludes with Senior Night against UNLV on March 6 in Honolulu. 

The Mountain West schedule also sends Hawai‘i to Grand Canyon, UNLV, Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico and UTEP during its inaugural conference campaign.

National Spotlight for the Rainbow Warriors

One of the biggest changes accompanying Hawai‘i’s move to the Mountain West is the conference’s expanded national television package.

Beginning with the 2026-27 season, Mountain West men’s basketball will have games carried across CBS Sports Network, FOX, FS1, FS2 and The CW, giving the Rainbow Warriors opportunities to play in front of a nationwide audience throughout conference play. 

The Mountain West’s new media package calls for 18 regular-season men’s basketball games annually on CBS Sports Network, 20 on FOX Sports platforms and another 20 on The CW.

Loaded Home Schedule

Before Mountain West play begins, Hawai‘i will have plenty of opportunities to play in front of its home crowd.

The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to host 18 regular-season home games in 2026-27. The non-conference schedule begins in November and includes the 60th edition of the OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic. 

Hawai‘i enters the season following an NCAA Tournament appearance and will feature a significantly revamped roster. UH brings in 13 newcomers while returning guards Tanner Cuff and Isaiah Kerr from last season’s conference tournament championship team.

Following the regular season, the Rainbow Warriors will travel to Las Vegas for their first Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship, scheduled for March 10-13 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

With a new conference, a revamped roster and eight nationally televised games, the 2026-27 season will mark the beginning of a new chapter for Rainbow Warrior basketball.

Per Hawai’i Athletics 5/8/2026

HONOLULU - Coming off a memorable 2025-26 season, University of Hawai'i head men's basketball coach Eran Ganot announced a series of major staff updates, headlined by a key internal promotion, the return of two former assistants, and the homecoming of a former Rainbow Warrior standout.

Gibson Johnson has been elevated to the role of associate head coach, while John Montgomery and Adam Jacobsen return to the islands as assistant coaches. Additionally, former UH all-conference player Noah Allen also joins the staff as an assistant coach.

Leadership Elevation

Following five seasons on staff, including two impactful years as an assistant, Johnson has been promoted to associate head coach. A former Rainbow Warrior captain, Johnson has been instrumental in player development, front court strategy, and, perhaps most significantly, the successful roster building that has occurred in his role as the program's recruiting coordinator.

Last year, Johnson helped put together a recruiting class that ranked among the top nationally for mid-major schools. That class served as the core of UH's Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament run, headlined by UH all-conference and all-district center Isaac Johnson. On the court, the team has also ranked among the top teams nationally in rebounding over the last two seasons under Johnson's direction.

"Gibson has earned this elevation through his tireless work ethic and his ability to connect with our players on and off the floor," said Ganot. "He is a rising star in this profession and represents the very best of Hawai'i basketball.'"

Return of the Architects

The return of Montgomery and Jacobsen brings a wealth of experience, continuity, and a proven track record of success.

Both coaches helped set the foundation for UH's success as original members of Ganot's staff a decade ago. It started with the program's historic 2015-16 season, which saw the Rainbow Warriors capture both the Big West regular-season and tournament titles, culminating in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

"We are beyond thrilled to welcome John and Adam back to the ohana," said Ganot. "Both are elite basketball minds who understand the unique culture and expectations of Hawaii basketball. They played vital roles in some of our most successful seasons, and their familiarity with our program— combined with the experiences they've had during their time away—makes them invaluable additions as we look to elevate this program further."

Montgomery returns to Mānoa after two seasons as an assistant at Long Beach State. During his previous nine-year tenure at UH (2015-2024), he was widely regarded as one of the top defensive tacticians in the Big West. Under his guidance, the Rainbow Warriors consistently ranked among the nation's leaders in defensive efficiency and effective field goal percentage defense. He helped UH to seven straight winning seasons and three 20-win campaigns during his first stint.

Jacobsen, meanwhile, returns to the Rainbow Warriors after serving as an assistant at California Baptist and Utah Valley. In two years at Utah Valley, he helped lead the Wolverines to back-to-back 25-win seasons, highlighted by a pair of WAC regular-season titles. Jacobsen previously spent four seasons on the UH bench (2015-2019), when he directed some of the team's top offensive performances and developed some of the program's most prolific backcourt players, including record-setting point guards Roderick Bobbitt and Drew Buggs.

Welcoming Back a Rainbow Warrior

In a move that continues the program's connection to its alumni, Allen joins the coaching staff as an assistant. Allen, who led the Rainbow Warriors in scoring during the 2016-17 season en route to first-team All-Big West honors, returns to Honolulu after a nearly decade-long professional playing career.

"Bringing Noah back is special, Ganot added. "He was one of the most versatile and high-IQ players we've had here. His perspective as a former student-athlete who found success here at UH, as well as in the professional ranks, will be a massive asset for our current roster."

Allen joins his former teammate Johnson on staff while continuing the line of former players who have returned to Manoa as staff members under Ganot. Allen, Montgomery, and Jacobsen join a staff that also includes current members Clay Wilson (assistant), Juan Munoz (player personnel), and Jake Nishimura (graduate assistant) who helped UH to a banner 2025-26 season.

The Rainbow Warriors are coming off a celebrated year that saw them notch 24 wins, capture the Big West Championship, and earn the program's sixth-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.