Hawaii basketball coach Eran Ganot vowed to be “back soon” directing the Rainbow Warriors.

“That’s great for me to hear and say,” said Ganot, who has been sidelined for 38 days since going on medical leave shortly before the season opener.

Ganot said he is restricted from disclosing his exact medical condition.

He said the encouragement he has received has been “overwhelming, but it’s been pretty nice. It’s a unique position, in some ways, to be in because you’re usually on the other end of it. … You focus on doing everything you can to get back, and really working hard to get back. At the same time, hearing from friends and family and people you’ve worked with and coached with, and even people you don’t know, it’s been nice.”

As Ganot’s condition worsened this fall, he decided to go on leave. “My job is to lead, which is do what’s best for the team,” Ganot said. “Part of that decision (to go on leave) was what was best for the team at the time. … Some people will say, ‘next man up.’ We try to adopt the ‘next man, every man’ because it’s not just one person. You never really think it will be you. That’s the unique part of this. There’s a lot of uncharted territory for me and my family.”

Ganot said the program is in good trust with his coaching staff. Chris Gerlufsen, who was hired in September to run the offense, has served as acting head coach. John Montgomery has expanded his role from defensive coordinator and scouting director. “We hire well,” Ganot said. “We have great people. I’m not surprised by the program (6-3) doing what it’s been doing. I’m appreciative of everyone.”

The first couple weeks, Ganot purposely stayed away from practices and the office. “They have to understand I’m away,” Ganot said of his thinking, “and (hear) the new voices. And they’re great voices.”

Following the Nov. 18 road game against Illinois, Ganot showed up at UH once a week. Then twice a week. “And this week,” he said, “every day.”

Throughout his leave, he remained in contact with his coaches and athletic department staff. “I’m in the loop as much as I can while not being as physical. Working just as hard, just in different ways.”

Ganot still is one of Hawaii’s representatives for “Coaches vs. Cancer,” which is raising money for Hawaii’s Hope Lodge. The facility is a home-away-from-home for cancer patients undergoing treatment in Honolulu and their caretakers.

Ganot and the head coaches of the seven other teams playing in the 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic will participate in an evening event at the Reef Bar & Market Grill in the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. Admission is $125 per person for the Dec. 20 event. For tickets go to crowdrise.com/hicoachesvscancer.