Hawaii Pacific University Athletics

Jesse Nakanishi enters his third season as head coach of the Hawai‘i Pacific University men’s basketball program, continuing to elevate the Sharks through a culture built on toughness, defense, and community.

In 2023-24, his first year at the helm, Nakanishi led HPU to an 18-11 overall record and a 13-7 mark in PacWest play — the program’s first conference tournament appearance in seven years. The Sharks established themselves as one of the league’s elite defensive teams, ranking first in multiple defensive categories.

The following year, HPU once again finished among the PacWest’s most competitive teams, going 15-14 overall and 10-10 in league play while leading the conference in rebounding.

Off the court, Nakanishi has championed the Sharks’ community engagement through the Shark Bite Mentorship Program, where players visit Noelani and Manoa Elementary Schools monthly to read, play, and mentor students. His leadership helped HPU earn the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence Runner-Up in 2023-24 for its impact in the community.

Before returning to HPU as head coach, Nakanishi served as the Sharks’ Associate Head Coach from 2011–17, helping guide the program to a historic 29-3 record, PacWest title, and No. 2 NCAA West Regional seed in 2016-17. His collegiate experience also includes stints at Seattle University and the University of Hawai‘i.
A proven winner at every level, Nakanishi first made his mark at Kamehameha-Kapalama, his alma mater, where he built a prep powerhouse with a 174-65 record, seven state tournament appearances, and state championships in 2009 and 2011.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from Lewis & Clark College, where he played collegiate basketball, and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from the University of Hawai‘i–Manoa.
Head Coaching Record at HPU