Jesse Nakanishi’s patience paid off.

The Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball interim head coach was officially promoted to the full job on Wednesday morning, a move that was widely expected as he emerged as a clear choice to succeed longtime program leader Darren Vorderbruegge.

Nakanishi had two stints as assistant coach with the Sharks and also spent time on staff at Division I programs at Seattle University and Hawaii. This is his first head coaching job at the college level; Nakanishi coached his high school alma mater Kamehameha to state championships in 2009 and 2011.

What You Need To Know

  • Jesse Nakanishi was announced Wednesday as Hawaii Pacific University men's basketball's official successor to Darren Vorderbruegge, who led the Sharks for a total of 15 seasons

  • Nakanishi had two stints totaling eight years as assistant coach with HPU, separated by director of operations positions at Division I programs, Seattle University and Hawaii

  • The Kamehameha Schools alumnus was named interim coach upon Vorderbruegge's announcement in late March that he would step down to take a church position in Fresno, Calif.

  • Nakanishi signed five players, including three Division I transfers, to play for the Sharks for the 2023-24 season during his interim period as head coach

"My past stops at Kamehameha, HPU, Seattle and UH have been invaluable experience in their own unique ways," Nakanishi told Spectrum News in a message. "I've been able to learn how to run a program from every angle both on and off the court. I can't wait to turn our program into an established, known commodity here in Hawaii and nationally."

He thanked Vorderbruegge, HPU Senior Vice President Dave Kostecki and Athletic Director Debbie Snell in a release from the school.

In his first stint at HPU that began 12 years ago, Nakanishi had a hand in building up a program that peaked at 29-3 in 2016-17, the best team in the program’s PacWest Conference era.

He returned to HPU for the 2021-22 season as associate head coach.

Amid struggles for the program over the past five years, Vorderbruegge announced in late March that he is stepping down to take a church position in Fresno, Calif. Nakanishi was tabbed the interim coach and Vorderbruegge expressed a wish that Nakanishi would succeed him permanently.

During his interim period, Nakanishi signed five players for the 2023-24 season, including three Division I transfers. The most recent of those was 7-foot-4 center Matt Van Komen from Saint Mary’s College, a former four-star-rated prospect by ESPN. The others were guard Tyrease Terrell from Nicholls State and forward Charlie Weber from East Tennessee State. He also signed two all-league junior college players in Northern California, Josh Niusulu from Ohlone College and Miles Lewis from Contra Costa College.

"I am thrilled to have Coach Nak continue with us in his new role as Head Men's Basketball Coach," Snell said in HPU's release. "He has worked hard to prepare himself for this new challenge and he performed extremely well in a very competitive interview process."

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.