Tuesday, April 17, 2001

[ RAINBOW BASEBALL ]

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Murphy to UH
just speculation
for now

A story in an Arizona newspaper
says he's ready to leave ASU to
replace Murakami as
head baseball coach

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By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

OFFICIALLY, the search is still on to find a new head baseball coach at the University of Hawaii.

Unofficially, speculation that the choice would be Arizona State coach Pat Murphy has increased following a story in Sunday's Arizona Republic newspaper.

The headline reads: Murphy may say 'aloha.'

The story, written by Pedro Gomez, says Murphy "is on the verge of leaving for what surely will be calmer and more gratifying times at the University of Hawaii where the Rainbows have pegged him as the person to turn around the downtrodden fortunes of a one-time up-and-coming power."

Gomez also writes of the vicious hate e-mails Murphy receives weekly, the factions that support him and those that don't, and the fact his wife no longer will attend home games.

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida had no comment on the story yesterday, saying, "We are still in the search mode."

Yoshida has set no timetable for naming a replacement for head coach Les Murakami, who is recuperating from a stroke.

Carl Furutani is running the Rainbows as the acting head coach.

Murphy does not directly address a possible move to Hawaii in the story.

He is quoted in general about his experiences at Arizona State, saying he loves the program and the people at the school.

"I'm not going to make any decision until the end of the season. This time is about the players, not my career. I want to keep it that way," Murphy said.

Murphy could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The Sun Devils left last night on a nonconference road trip to play at New Mexico State, Oklahoma and Oral Roberts over the next three days.

ASU is 24-13-1 overall, 7-8 in the Pacific 10 Conference, but has lost 10 of its last 14 games.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii