In what turned out to be GE Coleman’s final home game as UH-Hilo men’s basketball coach, the Vulcans turned in a performance that typified Coleman’s tenure in Hilo.
UHH fell behind Feb. 22 against Hawaii Pacific before clawing back during a spirited second half. There were exhilarating moments during a back-and-forth finish at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, but ultimately the Vuls fell short. Coleman didn’t question the effort, but results matter.
More than any loss this season, that defeat cost the program its first trip to the Pacific West Conference tournament, and Wednesday athletic director Patrick Guillen envisioned a high ceiling for the program in announcing that Coleman wouldn’t be retained after seven losing seasons.
“I feel that it is time for a change in leadership with a new direction and a fresh approach,” Guillen said.
UHH’s fifth basketball coach finished 69-112, including 12-14 records the past two seasons that left the Vuls on the cusp of reaching the postseason.
“The next step and goal is to get the men’s basketball program positioned to compete year in and year out for a Pacific West Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berths,” Guillen said. “I am confident that we will find the right person in the upcoming search process.”
That process will begin immediately, though Coleman’s contact runs through June 30.
“I want to first thank my players, assistant coaches and all the good people I worked with daily at UH Hilo,” Coleman said in a tweet. “Thank you to the Hilo community, great friends and fans for the support.”
The Vuls’ last winning season came in 2011 when they went 16-11 under former coach Jeff Law. The university can only hope the search for Coleman’s successor goes more smoothly than when Law resigned after the 2013 season.
After a drawn-out hiring process conducted by former AD Dexter Irvin resulted in several candidates reportedly pulling out of consideration after being offered the job, Coleman was hired after serving as an associate head coach at Central Washington, his alma mater.
Coleman’s uptempo style never did fully hit the mark at UHH, the most isolated program in the country.
His 2018 squad was decimated by injury, and his 2019 club was one of his most talented, only to come up short. Each of his final two teams held playoff aspirations entering the final day of the season.
“I’m thankful to Coach Coleman for his service to our university and most importantly our student-athletes during his tenure here,” Guillen said. “GE is a class act and I am grateful for the way he has represented our Vulcans program. He took over a tough situation and does leave the team in better shape than what he took over.”