Okeson heads back to Nevada

Todd Okeson’s playing career took off with the Nevada Wolf Pack.

The former Hawaii director of basketball operations is hoping Reno, Nev., can do the same for his coaching career.

Okeson, the former Pack point guard who helped lead the team to the Sweet 16 in 2004, was announced as the DOBO for coach Eric Musselman’s resurgent program on Tuesday.

Okeson chose to leave UH soon after his second year as DOBO under Eran Ganot. He’d bounced around the coaching circuit prior to that, having worked his way up to full assistant (and even briefly the interim head coach) at Southern Utah.

To say he’s landed softly is underselling it quite a bit.

The Wolf Pack lost a 69-68 thriller to fellow Cinderella Loyola Chicago in the 2018 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, and appear poised for another deep run this coming season with nearly all their difference-makers returning, plus some touted recruits.

Okeson messaged Hawaii Warrior World on Tuesday night:

“I am so grateful to have been a part of University of Hawaii athletics. However, coming home to Nevada was the right step for my family. I am thrilled to be back with the Pack and look forward to a great season with Coach Musselman and his team. We will never forget the amazing people we met and the aloha they extended to us. I hope for nothing but the best for Coach Ganot and Rainbow Warrior basketball.”

Ganot reciprocated the feeling.

Congrats @okesonT ! Great guy with an awesome family. Congrats Natalie, Gaines, Micah and Campbell. https://t.co/3INvVHYDy3

— Eran Ganot (@EranGanot) September 4, 2018

---

Ganot hired former Hawaii Pacific and Seattle U staffer Jesse Nakanishi to replace Okeson this summer.