Jesse Nakanishi is leaving his position as the University of Hawaii basketball team’s director of operations after three years.

“It was time for a change basically,” Nakanishi said in a telephone interview.

Nakanishi announced his decision on Twitter, tagging head coach Eran Ganot and athletic director David Matlin with a “big mahalo” for “the incredible experience being a part of my childhood team. Hawaii Pono‘i in the Stan (Sheriff Center) with the ‘Go Bows!’ at the end gave me chicken skin every game.”

Nakanishi said he will remain in Hawaii, but was not ready to announce his immediate plans. “I’m still figuring it all out now,” he said.

Nakanishi, 44, who was born and reared in Honolulu and played at Lewis & Clark. Nakanishi earned a bachelor’s degree at Lewis & Clark and a master’s in counseling and guidance at UH.

He was Kamehameha’s head coach in 2009. He then coached at Hawaii Pacific University for six years, the final four as associate head coach. He was Seattle’s director of operations during the 2017-18 season before joining the ’Bows in 2018.

Nakanishi’s UH duties included scheduling, assisting with scouting, administrative support for budgeting, and coordinating academics, youth camps and housing. He also was the liaison for community affairs and booster relations. He was elevated to interim assistant coach when Ganot was on medical leave for 13 games in 2019.

Nakanishi is the third member of the coaching staff to depart this summer. Chris Gerlufsen joined San Francisco as associate head coach. Jabari Trotter returned to Dartmouth, his alma mater, as an assistant coach with in-game responsibilities with the defense, as well as overseeing West Coast recruiting and working in player development and alumni relations.