The University of Hawaii at Hilo men's assistant basketball coach, Hamilton Manley, died Wednesday in an apparent drowning in Puna, police and UH officials said. He was 64.

“;Coach Ham touched the lives of countless college athletes and aspiring youth basketball players during his time with UH-Hilo,”; said Dr. Luoluo Hong, acting athletic director and vice chancellor of student affairs.

Police responded to a 9:43 a.m. call of a swimmer in distress in waters off the Kapoho Vacationland subdivision off Waiopae Road. A family member told emergency personnel that Manley was found floating in the water 10 minutes after going snorkeling in the Wai Opae tide pools near Kapoho.

Arriving officers found bystanders had pulled Manley from the water and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Emergency personnel continued CPR efforts. Manley was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11 a.m.

Manley was named an assistant basketball coach at UH-Hilo in September 2003. He was also an instructor at basketball camps and clinics as well as the Vulcans-Hawaii Basketball Summer Youth Camp, according to UH officials.

“;When we lose a coach and an educator like this, it is truly a grievous loss, but the ripple effects of coach Ham's influence will continue,”; Hong said in a UH news release. “;Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this time.”;