StarBulletin.com

UH candidates busy with March duties


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POSTED: Friday, March 19, 2010

Kyle Smith's second interview took place on national TV yesterday.

He nailed it. But it remains to be seen if the impressive win by Saint Mary's in the NCAA Tournament did more harm than good for his chances at the vacant Hawaii men's basketball coaching job.

Smith, the SMC associate head coach, helped guide the No. 10-seeded Gaels to their first NCAA Tournament win in more than 50 years - an 80-71 victory over No. 7-seeded Richmond in Providence, R.I.

Smith is a leading candidate for the position. He was the first known person to interview for it with UH athletic director Jim Donovan and his advisory committee last weekend.

Yesterday, he showed why. SMC was at its best behind center Omar Samhan, a player Smith recruited, and its plucky band of five Australians, whom Smith helped guide to Moraga, Calif. Samhan went for 29 points and 12 rebounds vs. the Spiders, and efficient SMC went 8-for-19 on 3-pointers.

With a victory over No. 2-seeded Villanova tomorrow in the round of 32, the Gaels will have tied or set a school record for wins in four of Smith's nine years there alongside head coach Randy Bennett.

However, another win means SMC's season extends to late next week, which could adversely affect his chances for the job; the new UH coach was expected to be announced sometime next week by Donovan. Time is short before national letter-of-intent day on April 14.

Former USC assistant Gib Arnold is considered the other frontrunner for the job, but there have been five other known candidates interviewed - including four in Los Angeles this week.

It is possible that more candidates could be interviewed before a decision is made.

As for the other candidates for the job, Ray Giacoletti's Gonzaga Bulldogs play today vs. Florida State. UNLV assistant Lew Hill's Runnin' Rebels were defeated in the opening round yesterday 69-66 by Northern Iowa. And Southern Miss associate head coach Steve Barnes' season ended with the Golden Eagles' loss at Louisiana Tech in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

               

     

 

 

JOB HUNTING

        Interviewed candidates for the UH basketball coaching job:

       

Gib Arnold
        » Current post: Jobless (former USC assistant of five years)
        » D-I head coaching: none
        » Alma mater: UC San Diego
        » Interesting facts: Son of former UH coach Frank Arnold and a two-year player at Punahou, where he earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors.

       

STeve Barnes
        » Current post: Southern Miss associate head coach (six years)
        » D-I head coaching: San Jose State 1999-2002 (39-51)
        » Alma mater: Azusa Pacific (Calif.)
        » Interesting facts: Has coached in some capacity at current WAC schools SJSU, Idaho and Utah State.

       

Ray Giacoletti
        » Current post: Gonzaga assistant coach (three years)
        » D-I head coaching: Eastern Washington 2000-04 (69-50); Utah 2004-07 (54-40)
        » Alma mater: Minot State (N.D.)
        » Interesting facts: Earned coach of year honors in both the Big Sky (EWU) and Mountain West (Utah).

       

Lew Hill
        » Current post: UNLV assistant coach (six years)
        » D-I head coaching: none
        » Alma mater: Wichita State
        » Interesting facts: Started college career at same institution (San Jacinto College) as former UH coach Bob Nash.

       

Matt Mahar
        » Current post: Chaminade head coach (five years)
        » D-I head coaching: none (81-55 at CUH)
        » Alma mater: Johnson State (Va.)
        » Interesting facts: Mahar's Silverswords led UH by 13 at halftime this season before the 'Bows eked out a 70-61 win.

       

STeve McClain
        » Current post: Colorado associate head coach (two years)
        » D-I head coaching: Wyoming 1998-2007 (157-115)
        » Alma mater: Chadron State (Neb.)
        » Interesting facts: Has a 2002 NCAA Tournament win over Gonzaga.

       

Kyle Smith
        » Current post: Saint Mary's associate head coach (nine years)
        » D-I head coaching: none
        » Alma mater: Hamilton College (N.Y.)
        » Interesting facts: Gaels have been to the NCAA Tournament three times during his tenure.