If there's anybody who knew what it meant for Bob Nash to be named the new head coach of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, it's Bobby Nash.

They have been father and son for 22 years, but Bobby saw something in his father for the first time yesterday.

"It's the first time I actually saw him get a little teary-eyed," Bobby said after watching his father make an emotional speech after being introduced as the head coach of the Rainbow Warriors yesterday. "He once told me that if he got this job, he'd be the happiest man on Earth, and I could see it was true today."

Bob Nash has been an assistant or associate coach for the 'Bows for 26 years. Next season will be his first job as a head coach, and Bobby will be a senior and the leading scorer among players eligible to return.

Bob is replacing Riley Wallace, who resigned after 20 seasons as head coach of the 'Bows.

Bobby has been on the team for the past four seasons (including a redshirt year).

"It won't be anything new," Bobby said. "He's still a coach on the court and my dad at home. That's not going to change."

Bob said he will treat his son like he does the other players, although he admits it won't be easy. They are the best of friends, and are often in the gym together, practicing jump shots.

"I expect a lot more out of him than I do other guys because I see him in a different light," Bob said. "But I'm going to approach it the same way I've approached it all these years. He's a UH basketball player, same like the other guys. I can't play favorites. The best players will play and we'll go from there."

Bobby's advantage may be that he still resides with his parents. He said he has already sneaked a peek at his father's game plans.

"I've seen a lot of the plays, the ideas that have come out of his head," Bobby said. "I expect it to be a totally different team. He wants to press, he wants to trap. I think it'll be exciting."

Indeed, Bob said he would like to implement an up-tempo style next season, with an emphasis on defense.

Last season, Wallace allowed Nash to install a new defense midway through the season, and the 'Bows wound up becoming the first team in Hawai'i history to hold opponents below 40 percent shooting for the season.

Twelve players from last season's 18-13 team are eligible to return, including starters Nash, Matt Gibson and P.J. Owsley.

Nash averaged 11.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. Gibson averaged 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

"I have no doubt we'll be a different team," Gibson said. "Coach Nash has his own ideas. A lot of people think it's going to be a continuation of coach Wallace, but it's not."

Bobby is on target to graduate next month, and would have been eligible to transfer to another NCAA Division I program next season if his father was not named head coach.

"That was real," he said of his potential to transfer. "But he's here and he's here to stay."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.