[Resigned March 15, 2013]
It’s been 15 years since Jeff Law stepped off the plane, made Hilo his home and started the rebuilding process of the University of Hawaii at Hilo basketball program.
Since that moment, he has compiled a 203-167 record, claimed a league championship, produced numerous all-conference players and claimed two Coach of the Year awards.
“I know when I came in here I came in a little on the green side,” said Law. “Now I’m trying to keep realistic expectations for the guys that are here. Once they see things from a different side, hopefully at that time they realize it’s not only about the game.”
Law came into a program that had one winning record over the previous12 seasons.
“My expectation is to keep everything on an even keel,” said Law. “The concept of winning the game hasn’t change. It’s important to me, the players … it’s important to the fans. It is still going to be the 1-A priority but the other is seeing the guys enjoy as much as possible their experience here and get their degree.”
His coaching career began in 1985 as an assistant varsity coach at his alma-mater SUNY-Plattsburgh. Following the season, he moved on to Hobart College to become the head coach of the junior varsity team and assistant varsity coach until the end of the 1988 season.
Before accepting the UH Hilo position, Law spent eight of the last ten years as an assistant to Riley Wallace at the University of Hawai`i. During that time the Rainbows were 142-96.
During his break from Hawai`i, Law was an assistant coach at Santa Monica College (1993-94) and associate head coach at Los Angeles City College (1992-93).
Since arriving in Hilo, Law has stressed discipline and hard work on the court and in the classroom from his athletes.
In the community, his program is active in camps and clinics as well as community events and the Special Olympics.
Despite losing two of his top returning players before the start of the 2004-05 season, he accomplished much with his squad. Unranked in the pre-season, they landed in the 8th spot in the final NABC/NCAA Division II poll. They held onto the top spot in the West Region for three consecutive weeks before dropping to the second spot in the final poll. Selected to finish second in the Pacific West Conference, the Vulcans claimed the title. The team's final 25-4 record was the second best winning percentage in Vulcan basketball history at .862.
Four players were recognized as all-conference players while Skip Esene earned all-West Region honors.
That same season Law was named the NABC/NCAA Division II West Region Coach of the Year. Weeks earlier he was honored as the Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year.
The 2002-03 season set the standards for the program. UH Hilo finished the season 18-10, second in the Pacific West Conference, ranked sixth in the Region and earned a spot in the NCAA West Regional. It was also the program's third consecutive winning season and second consecutive 18-win season. The Vulcans led the conference in turnover margin and was second in free throw percentage, steals and offensive rebounds. Three players received all-conference recognition.
At the end of the 2002-03 regular season, he became the first UH Hilo basketball coach to take a team to an NCAA Regional. During his tenure, 24 players have earned all-conference recognition.
The 2001-02 team chalked up an 18-9 record, the most wins over the previous 12 seasons. Two players were selected all-conference players.
During the 2000-01 season, the Vulcan racked up a 16-11 record, the first winning season in six years. Three players earned all-conference recognition.
Law's building process began during 1998-99 season. He used a skeleton crew of three returning players and a handful of freshmen, and pulled off several upsets including an overtime victory of then 7th-ranked and undefeated Midwestern State University.
