Don't call Riley Wallace early this morning.

He's sleeping in.

And after he gets up, he's going golfing.

It's called retirement, and Wallace will be experiencing it for the first time today.

"I'm meeting my friends — 'The Masters Golf Club' — at noon at Olomana," Wallace said. "I used to be able to play with them only in the offseason. Now, I can play whenever I want."

Wallace's contract as head coach of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team officially expired yesterday, ending a 20-year tenure with the Rainbow Warriors.

Bob Nash was named the new head coach on April 13. The Nash era officially begins today, although Wallace has remained behind the scenes for the past three weeks.

"I was still coming into the office to take care of the things I had to do, but as far as the basketball stuff, that's all Bob," Wallace said. "Once he got the job, I turned everything over to him."

It became official yesterday, when Wallace signed a document that put Nash in charge of all funds and projects related to the basketball program.

"It'll be a little strange not seeing him around here," Nash said. "The program has grown tremendously under coach Wallace, and he's always going to be a part of it. But the big picture is, he gets to spend quality time with his wife and kids and grandkids now."

Although he's had weeks to prepare for yesterday, Wallace said it was still difficult to cope with the finality of it.

"I turned in my keys, I turned in my (coaches) car, I turned in all my expense forms," he said. "I was just thinking the other day, as much as I love golfing, it's going to be tough waking up (today) and then realizing I don't have to come in to the office."

Wallace — the most successful coach in the history of UH men's basketball with a record of 334-265 — said he is not interested in coaching another program.

"I think that part of my life is over," he said. "Rick Majerus just came back after taking a couple years off, but I can't see myself doing that."

Wallace said he has two business opportunities lined up — one in Las Vegas, and one in Denver — but he is not sure which one he will pursue. First, he wants time to spend with his family.

"My wife is already there (in San Diego) with the grandkids," Wallace said.

Wallace and his wife, Joan, have grandchildren in San Diego and Las Vegas.

Wallace said his ideal scenario would be to work a job that will allow him to stay near his grandchildren for six months of the year, and then in Hawai'i for six months a year.

"I don't have to work if I don't want to," Wallace said. "My wife and I have taken care of our retirement. We sacrificed during the years to make sure when this day came that we would be comfortable.

"But at the same time, I don't want to wake up every morning and have nothing to do. So I just want to enjoy things for a little while, and when the time is right to start working again, I'll do that."

He said his role with the 'Bows next season will be "fan."

"I just want to watch the games and cheer for the team," he said. "The only hard part is I have to pay to get in the arena now."

Wallace said he has already started to train his friends to stop asking him about Hawai'i basketball.

"The last couple of weeks when we got together, what do we talk about? Basketball," Wallace said. "I keep reminding them that I'm not the coach anymore. If they got questions, ask Bob."

However, Wallace said he will remain loyal to the 'Bows forever.

"If there's anything I can do to help this program, I will do it," he said. "If it's helping with the schedule, or looking at a (recruit), anything."

Nash said he plans to take advantage of it.

"He still has a lot of ties to this program and to a lot of people," Nash said. "I want to be able to call him from time to time on issues because I know he can help me."

Wallace has also expressed an interest in broadcasting, and said he would welcome an opportunity to be a color commentator.

"Who knows the program better right now?" he said. "My job would be to let the people know what the players and coaches are doing and why they are doing it, and I think I can do that."

Wallace also cleared his office yesterday, removing team pictures and various Rainbow Warrior memorabilia. The head coach's office is significantly larger than the offices for the assistant coaches, but Nash was still in his old associate coach's office yesterday.

"I'm in no rush," Nash said. "We have a lot of things to get done. Moving offices is not exactly high priority right now."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.