University of Hawai’i head men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot has announced a series of major staff updates, headlined by a key internal promotion, the return of two former assistants and the homecoming of a former Rainbow Warriors standout.
Gibson Johnson has been promoted to Associate Head Coach, while John Montgomery and Adam Jacobsen return to the islands as assistant coaches. Additionally, former UH All-Big West Conference standout Noah Allen also joins the staff as an assistant coach.
Johnson has been promoted after five seasons on the staff. A former Warriors team captain, he has been instrumental in player development, frontcourt strategy and especially the successful roster building that has occurred in his role as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
Last year, Johnson helped put together a recruiting class that ranked among the top nationally for mid-major schools. That class served as the core of Hawai’i’s Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, headlined by All-Conference and All-District center Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson. On the court, the team has also ranked among the top teams nationally in rebounding over the past two seasons under Johnson’s direction.
“Gibson has earned this elevation through his tireless work ethic and his ability to connect with our players on and off the floor,” Ganot said in a school statement. “He is a rising star in this profession and represents the very best of Hawai’i basketball.”
The return of Montgomery and Jacobsen brings a wealth of experience, continuity and a proven track record of success. Both coaches helped set the foundation for UH’s success as original members of Ganot’s staff a decade ago. It started with the program’s historic 2015–16 season, which saw the Warriors capture both the Big West regular-season and tournament titles, culminating in the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome John and Adam back to the ‘ohana,” Ganot said. “Both are elite basketball minds who understand the unique culture and expectations of Hawai’i basketball. They played vital roles in some of our most successful seasons, and their familiarity with our program — combined with the experiences they’ve had during their time away — makes them invaluable additions as we look to elevate this program further.”
Montgomery returns to Mānoa after two seasons as an assistant at Long Beach State. During his previous nine-year tenure at UH (2015–2024), he was widely regarded as one of the top defensive tacticians in the Big West. Under his guidance, the Warriors consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in defensive efficiency and effective field goal percentage defense. He helped Hawai’i to seven straight winning seasons and three 20-win campaigns during his first stint.
Jacobsen, meanwhile, returns to the Warriors after serving as an assistant at California Baptist and Utah Valley. In two years at Utah Valley, he helped lead the Wolverines to back-to-back 25-win seasons, highlighted by a pair of Western Athletic Conference regular-season titles. Jacobsen previously spent four seasons on the UH staff (2015–2019), when he directed some of the team’s top offensive performances and developed some of the program’s most prolific backcourt players, including record-setting point guards Roderick Bobbitt and Drew Buggs.
In a move that continues the program’s connection to its alumni, Allen joins the coaching staff as an assistant. Allen, who led the Warriors in scoring during the 2016–17 season en route to first-team All-Big West honors, returns to Honolulu after a nearly decade-long professional playing career.
“Bringing Noah back is special,” Ganot said. “He was one of the most versatile and high-IQ players we’ve had here. His perspective as a former student-athlete who found success here at UH, as well as in the professional ranks, will be a massive asset for our current roster.”
Allen joins his former teammate Johnson on staff while continuing the line of former players who have returned to Mānoa to work under Ganot. Allen, Montgomery, and Jacobsen join a staff that also includes returning members Clay Wilson (assistant), Juan Munoz (player personnel) and Jake Nishimura (graduate assistant), who helped UH to a banner 2025–26 season.
The Warriors are coming off an historic year that saw them notch 24 victories, capture the Big West Championship and earn the program’s sixth-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.