Jesse Nakanishi Announced as Next HPU Men’s Basketball Head Coach on ‘Sharks Weekly’
BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAY 24, 2023
HONOLULU — Jesse Nakanishi was officially named as the next head coach of the Hawai’i Pacific University men’s basketball program Wednesday morning, succeeding longtime coach Darren Vorderbruegge after his retirement in March of 2023.
ON AIR NOW: Brand new HPU MBB Head Coach Jesse Nakanishi joins @12brecht on 'Sharks Weekly'!
— Hawai'i Sports Radio (@HIsportsradio) May 24, 2023
📻 95.1 FM • AM 760
🔊 https://t.co/KmeasDXeMZ https://t.co/g7H3t7HdlS
Nakanishi joined ‘Sharks Weekly’ immediately following the announcement, talking about how thankful he was to the people who conducted the search process to allow him this opportunity and his gratitude toward Vorderbruegge for his assistance in pushing forward the former associate head coach to greater heights.
“It’s a little surreal,” Nakanishi said of his first head coaching job at the college level. “It’s been quite a journey, definitely something I’ve been working towards every step of the way, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
The Kamehameha-Kapālama alum returned to his high school following his graduation from Lewis & Clark and eventually took over the reins of his old program, leading the Warriors to the state tournament seven of the eight years he was the head coach.
Nakanishi won two state titles in his final three seasons coaching at KS-Kapālama before moving to the college ranks as an assistant coach under Vorderbruegge in 2012.
“We’re a product of the people we learn from and our experiences and I couldn’t be more thankful for [Coach Vorderbruegge],” the new head coach said of his predecessor. “Next to my parents, the main guy in my life that has just mentored me along the way. I just have to give him a shoutout, big shoes to fill for sure with what he’s done here… Helping guide me, professionally and personally, has meant the world to me.”
The journey from 2012 has been a long one that has included stops at two other schools, but “Coach Nak” returned to the familiar HPU sidelines last season as an associate head coach, helping display his ability to the school long before the national search began.
Though he didn’t officially have the job, Nakanishi was confident in his ability and resume while HPU conducted the search, allowing him to get a head start on recruiting.
“I’ve never been done recruiting in May, but [assistant coach Cam Flabel] and I hit the ground hard and sold our vision to [recruits] and what we have planned, and they bought into it,” Nakanishi explained of the recruiting process. “I want to really thank Dr. Debbie Snell, and even the committee, but Dr. Snell let me continue on as the interim and be able to do all the recruiting with the job still looming.”
“I believed in myself to get this [head coaching job] and that I would be the best candidate they would see,” he continued. “I told them how confident I was in it as well and they believed in me and I’m thankful for that.”
The new staff at HPU, comprised of many familiar faces, certainly hit the ground running this offseason while recruiting in the transfer portal. Among the players brought in for HPU include:
Matt van Komen — 7’4 Center, transferring in from St. Mary’s, 3 years of eligibility remaining
Tyrease Terrell — 6’4 Guard, graduate transfer from Nicholls State, former team captain, 1 year of eligibility remaining
Charlie Weber — 6’9 Forward, transferring in from ETSU, 2 years of eligibility remaining
Nikola Milojevic — 6’6 Forward, from Belgrade, Serbia and played at San Jose City College last season, 2 years of eligibility remaining
Miles Lewis — 6’0 Guard, transferring in from Contra Costa College, 1st-Team All-Conference last season, 2 years of eligibility remaining
Josh Niusulu — 6’5 Forward, transferring in from Ohlone College in CA, was 1st-Team All-Defense and All-Conference last season, 2 years of eligibility remaining
With fresh faces mixing with old ones, HPU expects to enter the season much like the staff entered the recruiting part of the offseason: fast, furious and fun.
“We’re in it to represent the university as well as we can on-and-off the court,” Nakanishi said smiling. “We’re going to be a fun brand to watch… I want HPU to be a known commodity, here in Hawai’i and nationally. We’re going to be fun to watch and [a program that] people are going to be proud of and want to be a part of.”
Hawai’i Pacific downs Westmont late to win PacWest opener, 78-74
Hawai’i Pacific downs Westmont late to win PacWest opener, 78-74 BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED DEC 2, 2023HONOLULU — The Hawai’i Pacific University Sharks (5-3, 1-0 PacWest) took down the Westmont College Warriors (4-3, 1-1 PacWest), 78-74,...
Hawai’i wins 6th straight Senior Night Game to spoil Colorado State’s bowl hopes
Hawai’i wins 6th straight Senior Night Game to spoil Colorado State’s bowl hopes BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 25, 2023HONOLULU – The Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (5-8, 3-5 MWC) played spoiler on Saturday night, denying Colorado State (5-7,...
Kahuku gets revenge on Mililani in 2023 First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Open Division Football state title
Kahuku gets revenge on Mililani in 2023 First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Open Division Football state title BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 24, 2023HONOLULU — Every great title bout needs a rematch. Ali-Frazier in 1974 and again in ’75. The...
Purdue holds off Marquette to win 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational title
Purdue holds off Marquette to win 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational title BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 22, 2023HONOLULU — Pegged as “the greatest [Maui Invitational] field” ever with five teams in the preseason AP top 25 rankings, a UCLA...
Sweet-shooting Syracuse takes down Chaminade in Allstate Maui Invitational
Sweet-shooting Syracuse takes down Chaminade in Allstate Maui Invitational BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 22, 2023HONOLULU — The Chaminade Silverswords (1-5, 0-1 PacWest) started slow once again and saw the Syracuse Orange shoot 56% from...
UCLA’s size, paint presence overwhelms Chaminade in 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational
UCLA’s size, paint presence overwhelms Chaminade in 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 21, 2023HONOLULU — Day 2 of the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational brought a familiar fate as the opener for the host Chaminade...
Shooting woes sink Chaminade against Kansas in Day 1 of Allstate Maui Invitational
Shooting woes sink Chaminade against Kansas in Day 1 of Allstate Maui Invitational BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 20, 2023HONOLULU — The opening round of the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational, often referred to as the “greatest field ever”...
Rainbow Wahine earn 1st win against San Francisco in Bank of Hawai’i Classic
Rainbow Wahine earn 1st win against San Francisco in Bank of Hawai’i Classic BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 19, 2023HONOLULU — No place like home. After a trying road trip to open the season for the Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine basketball team...
2023 Allstate Maui Invitational’s “best field ever” set to tip-off Monday
2023 Allstate Maui Invitational’s “best field ever” set to tip-off Monday BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 19, 2023HONOLULU — #1 Kansas, #2 Purdue, #4 Marquette, #7 Tennessee, #11 Gonzaga, top-25 honorable-mention UCLA, Syracuse and...
Long shot bowl odds for Hawai’i no more after 42-9 loss at Wyoming
Long shot bowl odds for Hawai’i no more after 42-9 loss at Wyoming BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED NOV 18, 2023The Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (4-8, 2-5 MWC) turned into pumpkins in the 1st half, reverting to an awful October form on Saturday...