Longtime assistant Gabriel Roberts was named BYU–Hawaii men's basketball head coach May 3 becoming the fifth coach in the Seasiders' 38-year history, and that same day Brad Jones was announced as BYUH’s seventh athletic director, says BYUH Sport Information. Roberts and Jones both succeed legendary Seasider Coach and Athletics Director Ken Wagner.
Wagner announced on April 24 he is leaving BYUH to coach the men’s and women’s national teams in Taiwan for the next 18 months. Roberts said in a Sport Information press release, "I'm both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to coach such a well-respected program.
It's an honor to continue after a legend like Ken Wagner and I look to build on the rich tradition he left behind of excellence both on and off the court."Jones has been the assistant athletics director at BYUH since January, and said of his new appointment in another release, "I'm grateful for the opportunity.
We look forward to providing our student-athletes and fans a great experience."
In a May 2 Honolulu Star-Advertiser article, Wagner says of his nearly three decades of working at BYUH, “It was always a great place to work, great environment. You know, you make friends … for life, you’re like a family. It continues for 27 years. I guess you end up with a lot of kids.”
Wagner compiled a 501-241 record and led the men’s team to the National Championship game in 2011.
In that same article, Roberts talks about Wagner wanting to tell the players first that he was leaving. “The one thing I’ll remember the most, which is probably the hardest thing for him, was when he told the players he was leaving,” said Roberts…. “
He didn’t want anyone to find out until they knew first. To him, relationships are very important. Relationships you have with your players is key to being a successful coach, and just with getting along with people in general. He always treated people really well.”
Wagner talked about Roberts in the Sports Information press release saying, "Gabe's been a loyal assistant here and he's just a great person. I can't think of anyone that will do a better job in the final season and making sure the players have a great experience and season."
Roberts earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from BYU in Provo in 1999 and a master's in sports management from American Public University in 2014, says Sports Information. Jones earned a degree in political science from BYU in Provo in 2004 and has had more than 10 years of experience working at the University of Hawaii, the Western Athletic
Conference and the Atlantic 10 Conference, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches."We're excited to have Brad's experience - especially as a Seasider - to add to this role," said BYUH President John Tanner in the press release. "
Our student-athletes, coaches and staff will certainly benefit from his passion and precision as a leader."
The Seasider teams have one more year, the 2016-17 season, before sports are phased out. To read more of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser story of Wagner, go to http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/wagner-moves-on-as-byuh-athletics-wind-down/.