Scott Fisher knows a thing or two about rising up from humble beginnings.

Fisher, a former walk-on forward who achieved stardom at UC Santa Barbara in the 1980s, was promoted this week from director of basketball operations to full assistant coach with the Hawaii men’s basketball team.

The move fulfills Fisher’s dream of coaching at the NCAA level after two decades as a Hall of Fame player and coach in Australia’s National Basketball League.

He had no prior relationship with UH coach Gib Arnold before applying for the Rainbow Warriors ops job last summer.

"I was kind of a walk-on here, too," Fisher noted with a chuckle.

"I’m really pleased and excited that he’s got faith in me to do the job," Fisher said. "It’s been a learning experience … it’s not an easy job, director of ops, and it was frustrating at times not to have more of a voice with the players as far as pure basketball. But now I’m excited to be more involved with the sport the way I know it.

"Having grown up in America (San Jose) and been through the (NCAA) system, it’s something that has always tickled my fancy," he added. "It’s probably, in a broad-base kind of way, the most popular form of basketball. It’s a challenge that always appealed to me, something I was hoping for and I’m glad it’s come to fruition."

Arnold decided he didn’t have to look very far — right outside his office door, basically — for a replacement once associate coach Walter Roese left the program in late August. He slid assistant Benjy Taylor to the second-in-command post, freeing up a spot for Fisher, who dealt with behind-the-scenes duties like travel arrangements and day-to-day planning.

Sometimes, the 48-year-old lent his booming voice to practice when he felt something needed to be said. That’s where his eye and feel for coaching became most apparent.

He cemented his status during the Warriors to Asia tour to China in August, when he filled in as the third assistant in Roese’s stead.

"I knew he was overqualified when I first got him as director of basketball operations," Arnold said. "He’s been a relentless worker. … He’ll help us in recruiting, especially in Australia. We’ve already seen great strides with him being out on the road this summer."

Besides recruiting, Fisher will be in charge of the team’s big men in practice and will head up academics.

Finding a new director of operations is Arnold’s next order of business. The job posting is up on the UH website and must remain there until Oct. 25 before a new hire can be announced.

UH’s first full practice of the season is on Friday.

Hoopfest detailed

Celebrity games featuring the UH men’s and women’s basketball teams highlight the "UH Ohana Hoopfest," set for Oct. 21 after the UH-Utah State volleyball match at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The season kick-off event for hoops fans, tentatively scheduled for 9:15 p.m., coincides with UH football homecoming weekend this year. Fans are encouraged to stay after the volleyball match, while those outside the arena will be allowed in for free at that point.

Besides flashy introductions for each team, there will be a UH student halfcourt shot contest and a players autograph session afterward.

"There will be some surprises, so I’m not going to go totally into it, but I will say this: There are going to be a lot of celebrities there, a lot of people that you recognize," Arnold said. "And it’s going to be a fun night. It’ll probably be some real bad basketball, but a whole lot of fun."

Last year, Arnold and the UH men’s players and coaches performed Polynesian dances.

"Oh, we’re hoping to bring it up a notch," Arnold said.