RAINBOW BASKETBALL
Job can't go to Wallace's brother
The Hawaii basketball team will be without a third assistant coach at least a little while longer.
UH head coach Riley Wallace was informed by athletic director Herman Frazier that his recommendation for the position -- his brother, Loren -- was not approved for the job.
Wallace must now decide whether to reopen the search -- which could then extend into December -- or recommend a coach from the pool of remaining applicants.
"I was just told that he had not selected Loren and was supported by the university," Wallace said. "I'm not happy with the decision, obviously. That's his right as the AD. I don't agree with it, but he's the boss.
"It's disappointing not because he's my brother, but because of what he could have brought to the program."
Wallace declined to comment on who the other candidates might be.
UH spokeswoman Lois Manin said Frazier was on his way to the mainland and not available for comment last night, adding "it's not appropriate for us to comment on personnel matters."
Loren Wallace coached at Quincy (Ill.) High School from 1990 to 2003 and compiled a record of 263-86.
Riley Wallace had hoped to have the position filled prior to the start of practice and has been running workouts along with longtime assistants Bob Nash and Jackson Wheeler since Oct. 14.
He said not having a third assistant has had an effect on the team's preparation for the upcoming season, which begins Nov. 19 against Michigan State.
"There's no question it has," he said. "We've had to change our practice schedules and what we do and how we do it. It's put more of a load on the assistants who are here."
In addition to getting ready for the start of the season, the Rainbow coaches also have four scholarships to fill for next year's recruiting class.
The position on the UH staff became available when Bob Burke accepted a job as an assistant with the Portland TrailBlazers in September.
In other hiring news, Frazier said yesterday morning that two candidates will be interviewed this week to replace associate athletic director Tom Sadler.
"We're down to a couple of guys we're bringing in. If it's one of those guys, we'll go forward. If not we have some other people we're holding on to," Frazier said.
The position, second in command to Frazier in the department, has been vacant since Sadler left in August for a job as vice president of Global Entertainment Corporation in Phoenix. Frazier said he received 69 applications.