The University of Hawaii has successfully filled their men’s basketball head coaching vacancy. They have decided to hire former USC assistant men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold over many other candidates including Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s father. The university made the announcement on Saturday and both the university and the new coach are very excited and optimistic about the future.
Gib Arnold had been at USC before he was let go on March 7, the day following the conclusion of USC’s season. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Arnold agreed to a three-year contract that will pay him about $240,000 a year which is a substantial upgrade and promotion from the job and salary of an assistant coach. Arnold was known primarily as a recruiter which he can now use to his advantage because he can use that talent to bring more talent to the university of Hawaii. Arnold told the Advertiser that there are a couple players he was recruiting to USC that he will continue to pursue except now instead of bringing them to USC he will attempt to get them to Hawaii.
Gib Arnolds deal almost didn’t go through because his former school, USC, is currently under an investigation because a former player, O.J. Mayo who is now in the NBA had been given money while he was a student athlete. That is a serious offense because colleges are prohibited from paying players salaries or giving student athletes money to buy clothing or personal items. The university of Hawaii wanted to make sure that they were bringing in a coach that did things by the books and had the universities best interest in mind.
Hawaii Athletic Director Jim Donovan reportedly said that he called USC to make sure that Arnold was not in question and he isn’t. However, USC is still not out from under the investigation and they will face discipline.
The 41-year-old Arnold has become the 19th coach at Hawaii. His father, Frank Arnold, was the head basketball coach at the program for two years (1985-87). Arnold attended Punahou School, where he was a high school All-American and was selected Gatorade’s state player of the year. This should be an exciting season at the university of Hawaii so book a room and come out for a good time.
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