When it looked like a decision on her husband's candidacy for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball coaching job would come down to yesterday of all days, Domelynne Nash said she told Bob, "That's Friday the 13th, you know?"

"Friday the 13th has always been lucky for me," Bob retorted. And they both laughed.

Perhaps only a man of Nash's infinite optimism and unshakable belief could view such an otherwise cursed day as a fortuitous possibility.

For the longest time, unrelenting hope and enduring patience were two of the biggest things Nash had going for himself while clinging to the dream of someday being the head coach of his alma mater. That and an unwavering belief in himself, of course.

When the years rolled by and others got the UH head coaching jobs, Nash continued to dream and work. When even his family suggested maybe he might want to go elsewhere, he said thanks for the willingness to relocate, but the only job he wanted was here. He'd wait. And wait some more, if necessary.

So when the 56-year old Nash, a 26-year UH assistant, was introduced as Riley Wallace's successor yesterday, it was more an affirmation of his dogged pursuit than an anointment. Rebounding was, after all, his speciality on the court for UH, where he owns both the single-game (30) and season (361) marks.

When Nash applied for the job and was passed over for Wallace in 1987, he was told to hone his skills. "I didn't think it would take 20 years to hone," Nash quipped yesterday.

It was why, upon learning the news of her husband's promotion from associate head coach, Domelynne, a former UH cheerleader, began crying at work. And why two teammates from the Fabulous Five era of the early 1970s, Al Davis and Dwight Holiday, agreed to be at his side before knowing which way the decision was going.

At Wallace's final game, Danny Kaleikini led a rousing chant on Nash's behalf. At church, people said they prayed for him. When Nash jogged along the highway, people on passing buses flashed him thumbs-up signs.

They knew what the screening committee and athletic director Herman Frazier came to eventually learn, that Nash was the best pick in the 71-member field of candidates. A man for many reasons.

It says much about him that Nash never played the entitlement card. He never claimed that time served as a player and assistant should automatically make him the pick. And, alone, they shouldn't have. But his acquired body of knowledge and skill set did.

Yet, all he asked for was an opportunity to state his case about playing an up-tempo game, tightening down on defense, putting the game more in the players' hands and upgrading academics. All he wanted was an opportunity to explain his vision and display his heartfelt passion.

When you looked at the names that emerged from the nationwide search and the list of apparent finalists, it would have been hard for the administration to defend any choice other than Nash.

You'd like to think Nash got the job right there, on credentials alone. But if Frazier also happened to be mindful that he needed a popular choice in the wake of the ongoing football schedule fiasco lest the stakeholders become more riled, well, so be it. Whatever tipped the balance in Nash's favor, the right man got the job. The good guy won out in the end, even if it took a while.

Which is why, if there was ever a time when Nash deserved to wave wildly that trademark towel on his own behalf, it was yesterday.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.