HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i men's basketball head coach Gib Arnold announced the final addition to his coaching staff with the hiring of Brandyn Akana as assistant coach for the Rainbow Warriors. Akana comes to UH from BYU-Hawai'i where he was an assistant coach for the last nine years.

 

“Brandyn is a perfect fit to complete our staff,” Arnold said. “He is a very talented young coach and brings with him a great work ethic. He has a great love for Hawai'i and a passion for basketball, two traits that are extremely important to me. He's also the premier recruiter in Asia. His contacts and coaching experience will be very helpful as we begin to expand our recruiting efforts there. I am thrilled to have Brandyn and his family joining us.”

 

Akana played an integral part in BYU-Hawai'i's transformation into a perennial national contender in Division II basketball. As an associate coach he was involved in nearly every aspect of the program and was the team's lead recruiter. He now brings his talents to the Manoa campus, where his brother and wife both were standout student-athletes.

 

“This is an exciting move for me and my family,” Akana said. “Coach Arnold is a well-rounded and respected coach who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to the game of basketball. I look forward to learning from him and his staff and I'm excited for the opportunity to contribute to the success of the Rainbow Warrior program.”  

 

Akana enjoyed tremendous success himself, both as a player and coach, during his time at the BYUH. The team qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament in eight of Akana's nine seasons on the staff, including regional final appearances in each of the last three seasons. The Seasiders finished no lower than second place in the Pac West and claimed the conference championship five times. Prior to the 2009-10 season, the program achieved the preseason No. 1 ranking in Division II.

 

Recognized as one of the top Division II recruiters in the nation, Akana helped reel in four players who earned Pac West Freshman of the Year honors and five All-Americans, including three-time All-American Lucas Alves. As the associate coach, Akana's other responsibilities included scheduling, travel, scouting, and on-court instruction involving guards and team defense.

 

He also helped to coordinate camps hosted at the university and assisted in planning the annual BYU-Hawaii Asia Pacific International Tournament. Aside from his coaching duties at BYUH, he also served as an assistant professor in the Exercise Sports and Science Department as well as the Director of Intramurals.

 

Akana also boasts extensive international experience having participated in numerous clinics around the world. He has been involved in the Pre-NBA Draft Camp, Pete Newell's Big Man Camp and has been heavily involved in the Asian basketball scene. He has regularly assisted in the China University Basketball Association (CUBA) basketball camps, Beijing Basketball Camp, Taiwan Basketball Camp, the All-Asia Basketball Camp and has helped train the Chinese National Team. As a player-coach for the Samoan Men's National Team the last 11 years, he has participated in camps and competitions throughout the South Pacific. He is also heavily involved in Special Olympics Hawai'i, having mentored numerous coaches.

 

As a collegiate player, Akana enjoyed an outstanding career for BYU-Hawai'i. His team's qualified for the NAIA Tournament three times, including his senior season in which he averaged 16.3 points per game. Akana was named NAIA All-American honorable mention that season. He ended his career in the school's top 10 in nine different statistical categories.

 

Akana graduated from BYUH in 1999 with a degree in exercise and sports science. He earned his master's in kinesiology and leisure science from UH in 2001.

 

A native of Kaunakakai, Molokai, Akana is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Akana's older brother, Jarrin, is a former UH basketball player (1992-94) and has worked in the NBA as an assistant coach and scout for the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks.

 

Akana's wife, the former Joselyn Robbins, also played collegiate sports at UH as a standout volleyball player (1993-96). The couple has two daughters— Braelyn (10) and Keonilei (8)—and a son, Tausilinu'u (6).