When Gib Arnold became University of Hawaii basketball coach in 2010, he called it a dream chance to restore his family’s name locally after the dismal 11-45 run by his father, Frank Arnold, as UH coach in 1985-87.
“The Arnold name here — to the basketball people here in Hawaii — (it) was a tough time and a tough era,” Gib Arnold said then. “As a son, I get the opportunity to change that … to build a program that the people of Hawaii can be proud of.”
Great job, Gib!
He won more games than his dad, but UH forfeited 36 wins from 2012 to 2014 following seven NCAA citations for irregularities in player recruitment and benefits.
Whatever happens at the NCAA’s hearing next month, Gib Arnold has brought darker times to UH basketball than his father ever presided over.
The NCAA accuses Arnold of obstructing its investigation and concealing violations by pressuring players and staff to fabricate stories and ignore infractions.
UH admitted the violations and self-imposed sanctions that include the forfeits, reduced scholarships and practice time, a $10,000 fine and a year’s probation.
With an NCAA hearing in July that could stiffen penalties, Arnold is mounting a scorched-earth defense — pointing fingers at everybody but himself, dragging former players into it and hinting he’ll bring down other UH sports with him.
Arnold claims UH still owes him $1.4 million for his firing when the NCAA trouble became known, even though he was paid the final year of his contract.
In the bizarre world of Hawaii labor relations, where highly paid UH coaches are members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, Arnold may get all or part of it from an arbitration process that often favors the employee.
UH is seeking to block the claim in a lawsuit accusing Arnold of deception, obstruction and concealment.
Arnold’s attorney says UH is making him the fall guy for the mistakes of others.
Top guys aren’t fall guys; if it’s your kuleana and things go wrong, it’s on you.
It was Arnold’s responsibility to run a clean program, and if violations occurred, he’s exactly the one to be held accountable.
A person has a right to defend himself; he also has a right to show a little class.
Compare Arnold’s dodge to Nestor Garcia, who resigned as a KHON2 reporter after paying an $8,100 fine for ethics violations from his City Council days, saying he didn’t want to further erode trust in government or the media.
“I think the best way for me to deal with this is to man up, own up and pay up,” he said.
You have to respect him for that, however deplorable his mistakes.
Frank Arnold only lost basketball games. By playing the crying victim, Gib loses all respect.
Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
