Two weeks after leaving the Hawaii basketball team as associate head coach, Adam Jacobsen has been hired as assistant coach at Cal Baptist.

Jacobsen joins an athletic program that is in the four-year transition period from NCAA Division II to Division I.

Jacobsen, who grew up in La Crescenta, Calif., returns to the Southern California area. Jacobsen said his three brothers and their families, as well as his father, all live within an hour’s drive from CBU’s Riverside campus.

Most coaching jobs open shortly after the NCAA’s basketball season. But this vacancy did not materialize until July. After a discussion with his wife, DeAnn, Jacobsen opted to apply for the job. When he appeared to be the front-runner, he made the quick decision, enabling the couple’s three children to enroll in California schools in time for the start of the academic year.

Jacobsen gave UH a head’s up, enabling his vacated position to be advertised while he waited for his CBU hiring to be finalized.

“I hope Eran and UH basketball find someone great,” Jacobsen said. “I believe they will.”

After 14 seasons at Pacific, Jacobsen was hired as a UH assistant coach in 2015, Ganot’s first year as head coach. That 2015-16 season, the Rainbow Warriors reached the NCAA Tournament, then won an opening-round game for the first time in the program’s history. After that season, Jacobsen was promoted to associate head coach.

Jacobsen coordinated the ’Bows’ four-out offense and recruiting, as well as coached the guards, contributed to scouting and helped in special events.

He will have similar duties under Rick Croy. “I really appreciated my four years (at UH),” Jacobsen said. “I’m excited about this opportunity, as well, for similar reasons, as being around a great program and learning new things and being involved in a lot of areas. For me, I’m not the kind of person who just wants to sit there with a coach who does everything. I want to be heavily involved. I think Hawaii was that way. I’m excited about the opportunities at Cal Baptist, as well.”

Jacobsen said it was not an easy move. “I definitely think Hawaii was a great place for me and my family,” he said.

Jacobsen was the point recruiter for four returning players and two recruits.

“Those guys have been great as far as the messages they sent me,” Jacobsen said, “and the love we have, and the respect for both me for them, and the players for myself. That part, unfortunately, you do get some good feelings that way, but it happens when you leave. I really appreciate the culture of the program. The future of the program is exciting.”