Mike Wilton is headed to BYU. But only to keep a promise. Wilton to hear
BYU’s sales pitchBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comThe Hawaii men's volleyball coach will be in Provo next week to meet with Cougars athletic director Val Hale about the opening created by the recent resignation of head coach Carl McGown. BYU officials approached Wilton about the job last month, but the Warriors coach said he would not discuss the offer until after Hawaii's season was over.
The Warriors' year finished Saturday with the program's first NCAA title.
"I promised I would meet with them and that's what I'm going to do," Wilton said yesterday. "I'm not looking to leave Hawaii, but I promised them I would listen to what they have to say.
"It's not about money and I'm in no way trying to play the two schools off one another. I said I'd talk and I'm going to do that."
Wilton said that, after returning to the campus Monday, the UH athletic administration had sought to get his contract settled this week. His three-year contract lapsed in 2000 and he has received two one-year extensions.
"We'll talk when I get back," he said.
McGown said Wilton was one of six coaches he recommended to Hale. The others are Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy; UC San Diego coach Ron Larsen; former BYU assistant Tom Peterson, who led Penn State to the 1994 NCAA title; former BYU player Hugh McCutcheon; and current BYU assistant Troy Tanner.
All six have degrees from BYU.
"What I told my athletic director was, 'Here are a bunch of people who know BYU, have ties to BYU and are also good volleyball coaches," McGown said in a telephone call Wednesday night. "I won't be on the selection committee because most of the guys who apply will be friends and I don't want to have to choose one friend over another."
McGown said he was happy that Wilton, who lived with McGown while earning his master's degree, won the NCAA title.
"I think as a coach you want to think that you're doing the right thing," said McGown, whose teams won titles in 1999 and 2001. "Winning a title validates that you're on the right track."
Notes: Wilton's youngest daughter, Melissa, has been given her release from Utah State and is looking at transferring to a warmer climate, her father said. One school the Punahou School graduate has contacted is St. Mary's of California ... Hawaii is nearly done with its recruiting but apparently is still very interested in Maui High's Dio Dante, a 6-6 middle blocker, who has not committed to any program ... The Warrior coaches are also waiting to hear from 6-10 junior Josh Stanhiser, a red-shirt walk-on this past season for the UH men's basketball team. Stanhiser was on academic scholarship this past year and would have two years of eligibility.
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