A graduate of Jacksonville High School has been named the interim head men’s basketball coach at the University of Hawaii.

           Benjy Taylor, a 1985 graduate of Jacksonville was named as head coach last week after head coach Gib Arnold and assistant coach Brandyn Akana were relieved of their jobs.  Taylor has been on the coaching staff for four years, including three as associate head coach.

           According to the Jacksonville Daily News, this will be Taylor’s first head coaching responsibility since he coached Division I Chicago State from 2007 to 2010. Taylor also coached at Division III North Central College in Illinois from 2001 to 2004.

           Hawaii returns just one senior off last year’s team that posted a 20-11 record, including 9-7 in the Big West Conference.

           The coaching changes were announced as part of university moves after the school had self-reported a potential recruiting violation.