Eric Bovaird is continuing the winning tradition of men's basketball as head coach of the Chaminade University of Honolulu Silverswords.
In only his second season, he guided the Silverswords to the 2013 NCAA West Regional in Bellingham, WA. He also took CUH to the championship game of the inaugural PacWest Conference Basketball Tournament in Azusa, CA.
Having perhaps the toughest schedule in NCAA Division II annually certainly prepares the Swords for the postseason - none more than playing in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, which features some of the best Division I college programs from around the nation and televised across the nation on the ESPN family of networks.
The buzz of the 2012 version was the Swords' first round upset of Texas, considered to be one of the greatest wins since the historic 1982 victory over No. 1 Virginia. The win over the Longhorns sent the social media world a blaze. It was even one of the trending topic on Twitter.
In addition to playing three Division I heavyweights on Maui, Bovaird, along with CUH Athletics Director, Bill Villa, added a fourth Division I foe. This time with the neighboring University of Hawai`i, the state's only Division I school which is less than a mile away from the Chaminade campus.
The December 2012 game between the Swords and Rainbow Warriors was played in a unique setting; the island of Moloka`i, the first-ever basketball game involving a Division I team on the Friendly Isle. Both schools are in the works to continue the series in coming years on a different Neighbor Island.
Bovaird was a long time first assistant at fellow NCAA Division II member, West Liberty University, in Wheeling, WV. In his seven years at West Liberty, the Hilltoppers had the highest winning percentage in all of NCAA Division II men’s basketball. Remarkably, over that seven-year stretch, the Hilltoppers led the nation in scoring six of the last seven years. They finished that season 33-1 and averaged 111 ppg.
Bovaird has been very instrumental in developing the most exciting, winning style of basketball in the country. West Liberty has garnished nation attention with its ferocious full court pressure defense and instant offense, which Bovaird is implementing.
“I am really excited to be here at Chaminade," Bovaird said. "The Swords have a great history of basketball and we hope to make our mark in its history too. While it may be tough to compare to the 1982 upset of then-No. 1 in the nation, Virginia with Ralph Sampson, I am sure our players will learn a unique style of basketball and give anyone a run for their money. Chaminade has very special trademarks that make it unique. Student-athletes have a great place to get an exceptional education from people who truly care about them and their future. Basketball-wise, you get an unreal opportunity to play in a great conference, the PacWest, and play three games in the EA Sports Maui Invitational against great teams on national television.”
Not only has Bovaird had a storied coaching career, but he also was a two time All-American while playing at West Liberty 1992-95. After a career in which he broke most of the Hilltoppers' scoring records, he accepted offers to play professionally in both Europe and Australia between 1996-98.
Bovaird is married to Dr. Leigh Bovaird, and they have two children, Jane and Brooks. They currently reside in Honolulu.
