The University of Hawaii’s new men’s basketball coach in 2010 came from a program that had recent problems with the NCAA. That could happen this time, too.

Five years ago we were told not to worry about it, that former USC assistant Gib Arnold had nothing to do with allegations that Trojans star O.J. Mayo had received improper benefits. Head coach Tim Floyd took the big hit for that one, and after an internal investigation USC vacated its 21 wins from the 2007-08 season in which Mayo played.

Now, Arnold is the main subject of an NCAA investigation that will likely result in the Rainbow Warriors vacating quite a few more wins than the Trojans did, among a few other sanctions.

As UH goes into the stretch run of its search for Arnold’s replacement, is it any wonder that "Won’t Get Fooled Again" is playing in my head?

And that — whether it’s fair or not — is where guilt by association can come into play.

Interim coach Benjy Taylor’s name never came up, except in a positive way, in the NCAA allegations. But the consensus among insiders is that Taylor — despite his popularity among rank-and-file fans for leading UH to 22 wins despite the chaos — is not going to get this job.

Taylor said Tuesday he felt his interview went well, but hasn’t heard anything yet.

"Whatever happens, I’ll handle it with class," he said.

The decommitting of Austin Pope on Tuesday couldn’t have helped Taylor’s cause, even though it’s not his fault.

If coaching college basketball was only about winning games, it should be Taylor’s job, without a doubt. There would’ve been no need to go through the time and expense of a search.

But there’s more to it, and I would bet now that when the coach is announced in a few days it is one of the two names that keep coming up — Eran Ganot and Kyle Smith — despite the program they have in common having run afoul of the NCAA, too.

Smith comes highly recommended by Jamie Dixon, the former UH assistant who has done a lot of good things as Pitt’s head coach. Now, if I’m Taylor, I might ask, "What does Dixon know? My team beat his!"

Smith’s Columbia team made Kentucky sweat when they played in December, leading for 27 minutes after taking an 11-0 lead. But the Wildcats eventually won 56-46. And Columbia finished 13-15, including 5-9 in the Ivy League.

Ganot has a reputation for integrity and being the coaching version of a gym rat. He’s very well-liked by many here who got to know him the four years he was on the UH staffs of Riley Wallace and Bob Nash.

He is the first assistant at Saint Mary’s. He wasn’t there when the Gaels ran into their recruiting problems with the NCAA in 2008. Smith was, but the violations were linked to a different assistant coach.

People I trust say Ganot and Smith are both squeaky clean. But it’s still good that UH’s director of NCAA compliance, Amanda Paterson, is on the advisory committee for this hire. Is there anyone better to thoroughly check out the red flags and clear them of guilt by association?

When we meet the new boss, he can’t be same as the old boss.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.