Former University of Hawai’i men’s basketball standout Mike Thomas admits that as recently as a month ago, he never put much thought into becoming a full-time college coach. But since being hired earlier this week as the Warriors’ newest assistant, he can barely think of doing anything else.
“It means the world, man, Hawai’i is one of the most special places in the world, and to be an assistant coach and carry the ‘H’ again …” Thomas said during his introductory Zoom press conference Monday afternoon. “I was talking to the (players) as I was getting presented to them, saying it brings me to tears to walk into that (basketball) office and understand that this is like, you know, my place, my place to grow not just myself but everybody around me.