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Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball

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Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball
2025–26 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Athletic directorMatt Elliott
Head coachEran Ganot (11th season)
LocationHonolulu, Hawaii, USA
ArenaStan Sheriff Center
(capacity: 10,300)
ConferenceMountain West
NicknameRainbow Warriors
ColorsGreen, black, silver, and white[1]
       
NCAA Division I tournament round of 32
2016
NCAA Division I tournament appearances
1972, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2016, 2026
Conference tournament champions
WAC: 1994, 2001, 2002
Big West: 2016, 2026
Conference regular-season champions
WAC: 1997, 2002
Big West: 2016
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team represents the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in NCAA men's competition (women's sports teams at the school are known as "Rainbow Wahine"). The team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference (MW). The Rainbow Warriors have appeared six times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2026.

The team got their first NCAA Tournament victory in 2016. The Rainbow Warriors are coached by Eran Ganot, with former NBA player Patty Mills serving as the team’s general manager.

Season-by-season results

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Record table
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
1912–13 No Coach 6–1
1914–15 No Coach 3–4
1915–16 No Coach 4–1
David L. Crawford (1918–1919)
1918–19 David L. Crawford 2–5
David L. Crawford: 2–5
Edward Williford (1919–1920)
1919–20 Edward Williford 2–5
Edward Williford: 2–5
Otto Klum (1921–1923)
1921–22 Otto Klum 11–5
1922–23 Otto Klum 2–3
Otto Klum: 13–8
Charles Jones (1923–1926)
1923–24 Charles Jones 3–4
1924–25 Charles Jones 7–3
1925–26 Charles Jones 2–4
Charles Jones: 12–11
Leslie Harrison (1926–1929)
1926–27 Leslie Harrison 6–2
1927–28 Leslie Harrison 3–4
1928–29 Leslie Harrison 3–4
Leslie Harrison: 12–10
Claude Swann (1929–1930)
1929–30 Claude Swann 3–4
Claude Swann: 3–4
Eugene Gill (1930–1941)
1930–31 Eugene Gill 8–0
1931–32 Eugene Gill 9–0
1932–33 Eugene Gill 11–5
1933–34 Eugene Gill 2–4
1934–35 Eugene Gill 8–3
1935–36 Eugene Gill 8–7
1936–37 Eugene Gill 9–3
1937–38 Eugene Gill 5–9
1938–39 Eugene Gill 7–6
1939–40 Eugene Gill 10–4
1940–41 Eugene Gill 11–6
Eugene Gill: 88–47
Bert Chan Wa (1941–1947)
1941–42 Bert Chan Wa 3–5
1946–47 Bert Chan Wa 9–8
Bert Chan Wa: 12–13
Art Gallon (1947–1951)
1947–48 Art Gallon 23–3
1948–49 Art Gallon 21–6NAIA First Round
1949–50 Art Gallon 22–17
1950–51 Art Gallon 16–11
Art Gallon: 83–37
Al Saake (1951–1954)
1951–52 Al Saake 7–11
1952–53 Al Saake 12–15
1953–54 Al Saake 13–17
Al Saake: 32–43
Ah Chew Goo (1954–1957)
1954–55 Ah Chew Goo 5–16
1955–56 Ah Chew Goo 14–12
1956–57 Ah Chew Goo 12–18
Ah Chew Goo: 31–46
Al Saake (1957–1963)
1957–58 Al Saake 9–11
1958–59 Al Saake 12–12
1959–60 Al Saake 9–18
1960–61 Al Saake 10–11
1961–62 Al Saake 8–13
1962–63 Al Saake 12–16
Al Saake: 60–81
Red Rocha (1963–1973)
1963–64 Red Rocha 8–11
1964–65 Red Rocha 6–17
1965–66 Red Rocha 2–24
1966–67 Red Rocha 4–20
1967–68 Red Rocha 16–9
1968–69 Red Rocha 8–16
1969–70 Red Rocha 6–20
1970–71 Red Rocha 23–5NIT Second Round
1971–72 Red Rocha 24–3NCAA University Division First Round
1972–73 Red Rocha 15–11
Red Rocha: 112–136
Bruce O'Neil (1973–1976)
1973–74 Bruce O'Neil 19–9NIT Second Round
1974–75 Bruce O'Neil 14–11
1975–76
First 21 games
Bruce O'Neil 9–12
Bruce O'Neil: 42–32
Rick Pitino (1976)
1975–76
Last 6 games
Rick Pitino 2–4
Rick Pitino: 2–4
Larry Little (Independent) (1976–1979)
1976–77 Larry Little 9–18
1977–78 Larry Little 1–26
1978–79 Larry Little 10–17
Larry Little (Western Athletic Conference) (1979–1985)
1979–80 Larry Little 13–144–106th
1980–81 Larry Little 14–137–96th
1981–82 Larry Little 17–109–74th
1982–83 Larry Little 17–119–74th
1983–84 Larry Little 12–166–106th
1984–85 Larry Little 10–185–118th
Larry Little: 103–14340–54
Frank Arnold (Western Athletic Conference) (1985–1987)
1985–86 Frank Arnold 4–241–159th
1986–87 Frank Arnold 7–212–148th
Frank Arnold: 11–453–29
Riley Wallace (Western Athletic Conference) (1987–2007)
1987–88 Riley Wallace 4–252–149th
1988–89 Riley Wallace 17–139–74thNIT First Round
1989–90 Riley Wallace 25–1010–63rdNIT Quarterfinals
1990–91 Riley Wallace 16–137–95th
1991–92 Riley Wallace 16–129–74th
1992–93 Riley Wallace 12–167–117th
1993–94 Riley Wallace 18–1511–74thNCAA Division I First Round
1994–95 Riley Wallace 16–138–106th
1995–96 Riley Wallace 10–187–118th
1996–97 Riley Wallace 21–812–41stNIT Second Round
1997–98 Riley Wallace 21–98–64thNIT Quarterfinals
1998–99 Riley Wallace 6–203–117th
1999–00 Riley Wallace 17–125–96th
2000–01 Riley Wallace 17–148–85thNCAA Division I First Round
2001–02 Riley Wallace 27–615–31stNCAA Division I First Round
2002–03 Riley Wallace 19–129–96thNIT Second Round
2003–04 Riley Wallace 21–1211–75thNIT Quarterfinals
2004–05 Riley Wallace 16–137–117th
2005–06 Riley Wallace 17–1110–64th
2006–07 Riley Wallace 18–138–85th
Riley Wallace: 334–265166–164
Bob Nash (Western Athletic Conference) (2007–2010)
2007–08 Bob Nash 11–197–95th
2008–09 Bob Nash 13–175–118th
2009–10 Bob Nash 10–203–139th
Bob Nash: 34–5615–33
Gib Arnold (Western Athletic Conference) (2010–2012)
2010–11 Gib Arnold 19–138–85thCIT Second Round
2011–12 Gib Arnold 16–166–85th
Gib Arnold (Big West Conference) (2012–2014)
2012–13 Gib Arnold 17–1510–85thCIT First Round
2013–14 Gib Arnold 20–119–74th
Gib Arnold: 72–5533–31
Benjy Taylor (Big West Conference) (2014–2015)
2014–15 Benjy Taylor 22–138–85th(interim)
Benjy Taylor: 22–138–8
Eran Ganot (Big West Conference) (2015–2026)
2015–16 Eran Ganot 28–613–31stNCAA Division I Second Round
2016–17 Eran Ganot 14–168–85th
2017–18 Eran Ganot 17–138–86th
2018–19 Eran Ganot 18–139–74th
2019–20
First 13 games
Chris Gerlufsen 8–50–0(acting)
2019–20
Last 17 games
Eran Ganot 9–88–84th
2020–21 Eran Ganot 11–109–96th
2021–22 Eran Ganot 17–1110–53rd
2022–23 Eran Ganot 22–1113–75th
2023–24 Eran Ganot 20–1411-94th
2024–25 Eran Ganot 15–167–139th
2025–26 Eran Ganot 24–914–62ndNCAA Division I Round of 64
Eran Ganot (Mountain West Conference) (2026–present)
Eran Ganot: 188–126105–81
Total:1,282–1,186

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason history

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NCAA tournament results

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The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in six NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 1–6. Number in parentheses is opponent's seed in tournament. The Rainbow Warriors' first tournament appearance with seeds (The NCAA started seeding teams with the 1978 tournament, with the seeding format used today beginning in 1979) was in 1994.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1972N/AFirst RoundWeber StateL 64–91
199413First Round(4) No. 15 SyracuseL 78–92
200112First Round(5) No. 17 SyracuseL 69–79
200210First Round(7) No. 22 XavierL 58–70
201613First Round
Second Round
(4) No. 23 California
(5) No. 18 Maryland
W 77–66
L 60–73
2026 13 First Round (4) No. 17 Arkansas L 78–97

NIT results

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The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in eight National Invitational Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 10–8.

Year Round Opponent Result
1971First Round
Quarterfinals
Oklahoma
St. Bonaventure
W 88–87
L 64–73
1974First Round
Quarterfinals
Fairfield
Purdue
W 66–65
L 72–85
1989First RoundCaliforniaL 57–73
1990First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Stanford
Long Beach State
New Mexico
W 69–57
W 84–79
L 58–80
1997First Round
Second Round
Oregon
UNLV
W 71–61
L 80–89
1998First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Arizona State
Gonzaga
Fresno State
W 90–73
W 78–70
L 83–85
2003First Round
Second Round
UNLV
Minnesota
W 85–68
L 70–84
2004First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Utah State
Nebraska
Michigan
W 85–74
W 84–83
L 73–88

CIT results

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The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). They have a combined record of 1–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2011First Round
Second Round
Portland
San Francisco
W 76–64
L 74–77
2013First RoundAir ForceL 65–69

NAIA tournament results

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The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in the NAIA Tournament one time. Their combined record is 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1949First RoundNorth DakotaL 53–70

Coaches

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Coach Tenure Record Pct.
Dave Crawford1918–19192–5.286
Edward Williford1919–19202–5.286
Otto Klum1921–192313–8.619
Charles Jones1923–192612–11.522
Leslie Harrison1926–192912–10.545
Claude Swann1929–19303–4.429
Eugene Gill1930–194188–47.652
Bert Chan Wa1941–1942, 1946–194712–13.480
Art Gallon1947–195183–37.692
Al Saake1951–1954, 1957–196392–124.426
Ah Chew Goo1954–195731–46.403
Red Rocha1963–1973112–136.452
Bruce O'Neil1973–197642–32.568
Rick Pitino19762–4.333
Larry Little1976–1985103–143.419
Frank Arnold1985–198711–45.452
Riley Wallace1987–2007334–265.558
Bob Nash2007–201034–56.378
Gib Arnold2010–201472–55.567
Benjy Taylor2014–201522–13.629
Eran Ganot2016–present171–118.592

Notable players

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Retired numbers

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The Rainbow Warriors retired their first number in program history on February 15, 2020, honoring number 33 for UH great and coach Bob Nash.[2] The program retired its second number on February 21, 2026, honoring number 23 for Anthony Carter.[3]

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors retired numbers
No. Player Pos. Career No. ret. Ref.
23Anthony CarterPG1996–19982026[3]
33Bob NashSF1970–19722020[2]

All-Americans

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  • 1971–1972: Bob Nash (Third team – "Basketball News", Honorable Mention – UPI, AP, Universal Sports)
  • 1972–1973: Tom Henderson (Honorable Mention – NBA Coaches, Sporting News, Basketball Weekly)
  • 1973–1974: Tom Henderson (First Team – Sporting News, NBA Coaches, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation) (Second Team – Basketball Weekly, Universal Sports), (Third Team- AP), (Honorable Mention-UPI)
  • 1995–1996: Anthony Harris (Honorable Mention – Basketball Weekly)
  • 1996–1997: Anthony Carter (Honorable Mention – AP)
  • 1997–1998: Anthony Carter (Honorable Mention – AP)
  • 2001–2002: Predrag Savović (Honorable Mention – AP)

NBA draft

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NBA free agents

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NBA champions

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EuroLeague and international players

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Facilities

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The Rainbow Warriors play at the 10,300 seat Stan Sheriff Center, which opened in 1994. Originally called the "Special Events Arena" it was renamed in 1998 after Stan Sheriff, the former UH Athletics Director, who had lobbied for its construction. Previously, the team had played from 1964–1994 at the 7,500 seat Neal S. Blaisdell Center (originally the Honolulu International Center) and prior to that at the "Otto "Proc" Klum Gymnasium".

See also

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References

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  1. "Campus Signature Examples". University of Hawaii Office of Communications. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Oglesby, Zach (February 15, 2020). "'Bows denied by top-ranked Anteaters on Bob Nash jersey retirement night". Ka Leo O Hawaii. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  3. 1 2 McInnis, Brian. "Hawaii basketball gets dynamic win over UC Santa Barbara on 'AC Carter Night'". Spectrum News Hawaii. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
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