Hilo, Hawaii — University of Hawai‘i at Hilo basketball coach Jeff Law has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches West District Coach of the Year. Despite fore the start of losing two of his top returning players be-the
Hilo, Hawaii — University of Hawai‘i at Hilo basketball coach Jeff Law has been named the National Association of Basketball Coaches West District Coach of the Year.
Despite fore the start of losing two of his top returning players be-the season, the seventh-year coach accomplished much with his squad. Unranked in the pre-season, they landed in the 8th spot in the final NABC/NCAA Division II poll.
They held onto the top spot in the West Region for three consecutive weeks before dropping to the second spot in the final poll. Selected to finish second in the Pacific West Conference, the Vulcans claimed the title.
The team’s final 25-4 record was the second best winning percentage in Vulcan basketball history at .862.
Four players were recognized as all-conference players while Skip Esene earned all-West Region honors. Among his own accomplishments, Law recorded his 100th career victory with a 95-80 victory over Western New Mexico University on January 4.
He was also recognized as the PWC Coach of the Year.
Before the start of the season, Law, his staff, and his players conducted a youth basketball clinic at Kapa‘a High School gym.
With the help from many volunteers and the County of Kaua‘i Recreation Agency, the clinic turned out to be a helpful experience for the youth of our island.
Law, who was a longtime University of Hawai‘i assistant under Rainbow Warrior head coach Riley Wallace, brought back the energy and spirit to the Vulcan program, which hasn’t seen much success since the days of coach Jimmy Yagi.
