Chris Acker makes his way back to the islands

Chris Acker’s past is colliding with his present, and that development is just fine with the Hawaii basketball assistant coach.

A Chaminade guard a dozen years ago, Acker has since made a name for himself in player development and will be on the UH sideline with head coach Eran Ganot when the Rainbow Warriors take on the Silverswords in a 7 p.m. exhibition today at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It feels like life’s gone full circle a little bit," Acker said. "I’ll be only worried about what we’re doing, but it’ll be pretty cool just to see my old alma mater out there, and have some memories and some flashbacks playing for a Division II program playing against Division I teams."

Acker, 35, of Compton, Calif., was a junior college transfer and reserve guard for Chaminade in the 2003-04 season. From there, he embarked on a four-year pro career, mostly in Europe, before finding his true calling in coaching.

In his first year on a Division I staff, he’s been tasked with coordinating the team’s defense and overseeing development of the big men.

"He’s someone you would like in the foxhole with you," Ganot said. "He’s a great competitor, he’s got tremendous energy and a great presence on the floor. He’s clear. I think guys respect him because of who he is and how hard he works and how he treats them."

Upon Acker’s return to the islands in May, no one on Ganot’s nascent staff had past experience working with bigs specifically, but Acker was used to being hands-on at his stops. He served six years assisting at Citrus College then headed up his own program at West Los Angeles College the last two years. He did the proverbial "call for the ball" at UH.

"Coach Ack" makes himself heard at practices, whether it’s in one-on-one instruction or in team full-court drills.

"We call them Coach Acker elite camps," forward Stefan Jankovic said. "That’s what we call our little group of bigs. We joke around. But he’s good, he’s really good."

Jankovic swears Acker has helped make him a better back-to-the-basket player, a new emphasis as Jankovic will be the only man in the middle for long stretches in the new four-out system.

The progress comes despite the 6-foot-1 Acker having playing experience as a perimeter threat — not in the post.

"Buy-in is buy-in," Acker said.

It was instant buy-in when Ganot offered him a job at UH. His wife, Jennifer, is local, and he said his sons Malakai, 8, and Elijah, 3, were quick to adapt as "island boys at heart."

Back in his playing days, Chaminade picked up one of its seven all-time wins in the Maui Invitational, 52-49 over Villanova on Nov. 24, 2003. Acker recalled the standing ovation the ‘Swords received the next day walking back into the Lahaina Civic Center to face Hawaii (making its only appearance to date in the tournament). UH won 68-54.

Acker, a junior averaging five points, made the curious decision of declaring for the NBA Draft after that season. But he stands by the move and said it led to other opportunities as a pro. He was even able to offer his younger brother, Alex, some pointers when Alex was drafted 60th in 2005 by the Detroit Pistons.

"We all have some unique stories and let’s just say he’s learned from that and he’s paying it forward," Ganot said with a smile. "He lost his mind for a sec."

Acker might not have regrets, but he also comes off as determined to make the most of a second opportunity here with a new family.

"I didn’t realize then, until it was all over, how unique Hawaii was and how special it was," he said. "So, now, we try to take every day to appreciate where we are and be thankful we’re in this opportunity, this situation."