Wilton in running
for job at BYU

The UH coach has interviewed
to take over the women’s
volleyball program

When Mike Wilton was completing his master's degree at Brigham Young years ago, the chair of his thesis committee was then-BYU men's volleyball coach Carl McGown. When Wilton returned to Provo, Utah, this week to interview for the vacant Cougar women's volleyball position, McGown was again there, more as a friend than as an adviser.

"We had dinner Friday," McGown said in a telephone call from his Provo home yesterday. "We talked about the situation. And then he went back to Honolulu."

Wilton, the head coach for the third-ranked Hawaii men's volleyball team, met with BYU officials and members of the Cougar women's volleyball team Friday. Although he was not offered the job, he appears to be the leading candidate to replace Karen Lamb.

Lamb, 57-39 in three seasons, was told on Jan. 28 that she would not be retained for next season. BYU officials are expected to make a decision as early as tomorrow.

Reached yesterday, Wilton confirmed that he is in the running for the job, but said Brigham Young has not made him an offer. He said he expects the school to make a decision early this week.

Wilton is in the final year of a three-year contract.

Wilton is in his 13th year with the Warrior program and has a record of 249-106. Hawaii is 8-1 overall, 6-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

According to McGown, Wilton indicated that any decision made would be done with in his family's best interests.

Wilton had been given permission to discuss the job opening by UH athletic department officials. This is the second time in less than three years that Wilton, a high-ranking member in the Mormon Church, has looked at a coaching job with the Cougars.

In 2002, he interviewed for the men's position when McGown retired after 13 seasons and one NCAA championship. Wilton then withdrew from the process, saying that staying at Hawaii was better for him and his family.

Prior to taking over the UH job in 1993, Wilton spent 12 seasons as the women's coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, compiling a 283-137 record. His Mustangs ended the Rainbow Wahine's 55-game home winning streak in 1989, when the two teams were members of the Big West.

Wilton is a graduate of Church College of Hawaii (now BYU-Hawaii), where he played volleyball and later became coach of the now-defunct Seasider men's program.

Hawaii continues MPSF play against USC, hosting the Trojans on Thursday and Friday.