Nash hires ex-UCLA coach Larry Farmer
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Former UCLA head coach Larry Farmer is the newest addition to the University of Hawai'i men's basketball program.
UH head coach Bob Nash said Farmer will join the Rainbow Warriors as an assistant coach.
"Larry has coached at a high level at UCLA, and he's also coached at a wide variety of other places, so his experience will be extremely valuable," Nash said. "And I think he has the right personality to come in here and blend in and adapt to Hawai'i's culture."
Farmer will be one of three coaches on Nash's inaugural staff.
Jackson Wheeler was retained as an associate coach, and Eran Ganot was promoted from director of basketball operations to assistant coach.
"It's a diverse staff, which is what I wanted," Nash said. "We're all going to share a lot of responsibilities, but each guy will also have special areas to take care of."
He was also a head coach at Weber State (1985-88) and Loyola-Chicago (1998-2003), and an assistant for the NBA's Golden State Warriors (1990-91). Farmer also spent six years coaching in Kuwait.
"Because of his background, Larry will be able to help us in a lot of areas, mostly player development and game strategy," Nash said. "I think he's really going to help us develop our system further, both offensively and defensively."
Nash said he got acquainted with Farmer through coaching circles for more than 20 years.
Most recently, Farmer was a color commentator for college basketball games on ESPN and Fox Sports. He was a commentator for several UH games in recent years.
"Having been around the UH program during my television days, I've always sensed a family atmosphere in a college setting," Farmer said. "Everyone knows each other and cares for one another, and for me to join coach Nash's first staff, I'm really excited and looking forward to the opportunity."
Farmer was also a key player under legendary coach John Wooden during UCLA's dynasty years. Farmer played on three NCAA championship teams with the Bruins, and the team went 89-1 during his years.
Nash said Wheeler's primary duty will still be recruiting.
"He's demonstrated over the years that he's one of the top recruiters out there," Nash said. "There's no one who understands the grind of recruiting in Hawai'i like Jackson."
Nash said Wheeler will be "the point man" for recruiting, but the entire staff will share the responsibility of finding new players.
"We're making some changes in recruiting, No. 1 being to recruit more high school players," Nash said. "I think Jackson has already displayed an ability to adjust to that."
"I was looking for somebody who was technologically advanced," Nash said. "I think upgrading our communications aspect, so to speak, will help us get a lot of things done in a faster manner, and Eran has displayed an ability to do that."
Ganot was the director of basketball operations under Wallace last season.
Nash said Ganot will also assist with scouting opponents and finding teams for future schedules.
Nash said all four UH coaches will take turns traveling to the Mainland this month for recruiting purposes.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.
