It was the smallest of details, a single number reportedly no bigger than a typewritten figure, that began the unraveling of Gib Arnold’s four-year reign as the University of Hawaii men’s basketball coach.
The clumsily altered number on a financial information form for a Canadian recruit in January reportedly "jumped out" at a UH compliance official, prompting questions about the document’s legitimacy.
That, UH officials have said, triggered an internal investigation and, eventually a report to the NCAA, which began its own wide-ranging, seven-month inquiry.
On Tuesday, UH-Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman and athletic director Ben Jay announced Arnold and assistant Brandyn Akana were relieved of coaching duties and "are departing employment from the University of Hawaii."
The terminations come as UH tries to mitigate expected NCAA penalties.
In a statement, Jay said, "As a member institution of the NCAA, we have an obligation to monitor and control our athletic program, a duty to report all instances of noncompliance with NCAA rules, and cooperate fully with and assist the NCAA enforcement staff."
As part of UH’s information form for foreign applicants, they must demonstrate "sufficient funds in U.S. dollars will be available for the duration of studies," with certified bank statements, according to the UH website.
A bank-certified document attesting to the resources of Stefan Jankovic, a Canadian national, was reportedly altered to reflect a higher number and faxed to UH while the team was on the road in January.
UH officials have said "the student athlete had no knowledge" of what had been done.
Jankovic, a transfer from Missouri, was eventually admitted to UH but has yet to play for UH.
GIB ARNOLD STATEMENT
"I would first like to thank former AD Jim Donovan, former Chancellor Hinshaw, and former President Greenwood for the opportunity to return home and coach at the University of Hawaii. We inherited a losing program with very little support and transformed a 20-loss team into a 20-win team in four short years. Our players represented the state of Hawaii on the floor, in the community and classroom. We recently set an all-time high in GPA and our "Give BackHawaii" campaign has touched thousands of children. I am very proud of these accomplishments. We leave Hawaii loaded with great young talent and great kids. This program is definitely far better off than when we arrived.
"I am being fired ‘without cause.’ That means that UH does not need to prove they have a reason to fire me. It pains me that they are taking my team and career away based on unknown allegations from unknown sources that have not been proven and that Ihave never been able to defend. I do know we have never paid any players or recruits, never committed any academic fraud, never had an off-court issue involving domestic violence or criminal behavior. We ran a program the people of Hawaii could be proud of.
"I am aware of new NCAA legislation that all actions of assistants or administration fall upon the shoulders of the head coach, even if they have no knowledge of the situation. I strongly believe I deserved the right to address those allegations against my assistants or administration. I certainly don’t feel the NCAA changed this legislation so administrators can fire head coaches without cause. I feel that UH administration acted prematurely offering the heads of both Coach Akana and I before we were given due process.
"As for now, my family and I look forward to the next adventure life brings. I want my players to know I love and support them and to always fight for what’s right. I also want to personally thank all the wonderful people of Hawaii for their love and aloha."
