Coach Ganot’s UH contract inked

Some six months after he was introduced as the new Hawaii men’s basketball head coach, Eran Ganot finalized a three-year contract with the university on Monday.

Ganot and athletic director David Matlin signed off on it prior to Monday’s team practice in the Stan Sheriff Center.

“The honor of my life,” Ganot said. “To be able to lead this program and to represent this great institution in this state is truly a blessing. It’s about people, and as we all know Hawaii is top-notch in that area.”

The salary range for the position is $185,000 to $400,000. It’s believed Ganot’s deal falls near $200,000.

The former Saint Mary’s assistant said he was not concerned about getting it wrapped up just a few weeks out from the Nov. 13 regular-season opener.

“It’s kind of been unique, because to me it’s very much been a formality for a long time,” he said.

Talks were complicated by UH having to rework some contract language in the wake of ex-coach Gib Arnold’s expensive separation from the university. UH recently reached a $700,000 settlement with Arnold and his attorneys.

“There’s some language that had to be worked out,” Ganot said. “It’s a new template, I guess you could say, for a new contract. … I think all parties have always been on the same page. Just figuring out the right language.”

Unlike the hire of Arnold in 2010, UH avoided taking a simple basic terms agreement — and no completed contract — into the new coach’s first season.

“To me, Eran and I shook on the agreement in April and the deal points remain the same today,” Matlin said. “It is basketball season and I am looking forward to Eran’s inaugural season leading the Rainbow Warriors.”

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser has requested a copy of the contract from UH.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Ferd Lewis contributed to this story.