There’s a stone bench in a clearing at the University of Hawaii lower campus, a convenient central spot with views of facilities in multiple directions. Todd Okeson sat there on a recent day and craned his neck around, first toward the Stan Sheriff Center then toward a familiar upstairs practice gym.
“There’s always something going on here” — he inclined his head at the Sheriff — “where they ran you off into Gym 2,” the former Nevada point guard recalled of the Wolf Pack’s practices at UH. He wore an easy grin. “The game-day shootaround was the only one we got in the Stan.”
Okeson, UH’s second-year director of basketball operations, has been nostalgic of late, and for good reason. His alma mater comes to town for a Friday 8 p.m. “Greenout” matchup of unbeaten former WAC foes.
He’s followed his old program as a member of various coaching staffs, from Nevada itself, to Georgia, Southern Utah, and now Hawaii. There was even a year with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-league.
No question that basketball has taken the affable Okeson places. He grew up on a corn and wheat farm with his three siblings in the tiny town of Weskan, Kansas, population 400.
The lanky 6-foot guard got out of Dodge — Dodge City Community College — to get to Division I. Mark Fox, then a Nevada assistant under Trent Johnson, recruited Okeson to Reno.
He battled Hawaii in the WAC for two years, going 2-0 at Lawlor Events Center (a place UH never won) and 0-2 at the Sheriff (a place Nevada rarely did). Carl English stands out the most in his memories; the UH guard hit a game-winner here Okeson’s junior year.
But Okeson’s 2003-04 Nevada team reached the NCAA Sweet 16. That season remains the gold standard for Wolf Pack basketball. There was a lot of talent on that team, with Kirk Snyder, Nick Fazekas, Okeson, and defenders and rebounders who knew their roles.
UH point guard Brocke Stepteau recently learned about the unassuming Okeson’s abilities after Stepteau learned Okeson went against Jarrett Jack and Georgia Tech.
“I just typed it in on Google. Next thing I know I find the first half of him against Georgia Tech, and he was balling,” Stepteau said. “I mean, when you look at him, it’s not like, ‘Oh yeah, he was a really good player in college.’ Then I saw him play and he was real talented back then. Anytime he gives me pointers from a point guard’s perspective, obviously seeing that I know what he’s talking about.”
Okeson was a full assistant at Southern Utah for four years, then brought his wife and two children (a third is on the way) to Hawaii for a job once his boss at SUU, Nick Robinson, was fired. He even served as interim coach at SUU for a month, something he joked he puts high on his resume. His duties now involve things like travel and practice scheduling.
“He’s a great guy. He’s got a dry sense of humor,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “Big heart, great family man, caring guy. He’s made his mark very clearly amongst the players, amongst the staff and amongst the people at UH.
“Not so much a rah-rah guy, it’s a laid back, calm demeanor. But there’s a killer under that surface. This is a guy who’s a competitor as well.”
Okeson made it clear he’s all Hawaii in this week’s matchup.
Nevada arrives 5-0 under coach Eric Musselman, on the fringe of the Top 25 after beating strong opponents like Rhode Island and Davidson.
“I’m going to check out, see who’s wearing No. 3,” Okeson said. “Make sure he’s good taking care of that number. Then after that, it’s just going to be another game.”
(That would be guard John Jones, who’s played all of a minute so far this season.)
Advantage, Okeson.
