By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
A 2 1/2-month search for a new University of Hawaii at Hilo men’s basketball coach may finally come to an end later this week.
“I think we’re close,” UHH athletic director Dexter Irvin said Monday. “We’ve made an offer and hopefully we’ll be able to hire the new coach.”
There was a school-record 361 applicants who applied for the Vulcans’ job, which opened in mid-March when veteran UHH coach Jeff Law resigned to take the head coaching position at Western New Mexico University.
Three finalists from the group were selected and interviewed by Irvin. They included Humboldt State University men’s basketball coach Steve Kinder, Grand Canyon University assistant coach Mark Nelson and Panola College assistant coach Guy Beach. However, all three turned the job down for various reasons.
That meant Irvin had to dip back into the overall group and tabbed three more finalists for the vacant job. The updated list includes Ferris State University (Mich.) interim head coach Andy Bronkema, Central Washington University Associate Head Coach GE Coleman, and St. Martin’s University head coach Keith Cooper.
“I’ve interviewed all three and made an offer to one of them,” Irvin said. “We’re hoping to finish up the hiring process this week.”
According to information released by UHH:
• Bronkema joined FSU in 2007. He helped in the development of two all-America and Conference Player of the Year selections, and an NCAA Division II National Player of the Year. During his tenure, the program went from a 5-13 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record to back-to-back conference championships.
• Coleman joined CWU in 2007. In five of the past six seasons, the Wildcats were among the top-10 D-II scoring teams and appeared in four straight Regionals (2008-11). The 2010-11 squad captured the Region’s top-ranking and finished fifth in the final NABC Ranking. He was the lead recruiter of 17 all-conference selections and three newcomers of the year as the Wildcats were 111-54 (.673) during that span. In the classroom, 10 players earned academic all-conference recognition.
• Cooper joined SMU in 2003. He took over a program with a 2-26 record and led the school to a 22-8 record in 2009, the second highest winning percentage in school history. The season included being ranked 13th nationally and with a victory over NCAA D-I Colorado State University.
Irvin said UHH recruiting has been on hold during the search for a new coach. Zac Zepponi, an assistant under Law, has overseen the program since Law stepped down in late March following a 6-19 season, including a 4-13 mark in the Pacific West Conference.
Law spent 15 seasons with the Vulcans. Zepponi was in his first year as a UHH assistant and his contract runs until July 1. The new coach will have the option of retaining Zepponi or hiring his own assistant coach.
Zepponi applied for the head coaching job but was not selected as one of the finalists.
Irvin said earlier that UH-Hilo has signed two basketball recruits and that all five returnees from this past year’s squad have said they will return for next season. The AD said the new head coach would have four scholarships to work with when he steps on board.
The new coach will work directly under Irvin and although a salary was not posted with the original job description, it’s believed a salary range between $55,000 and $65,000 per year was being offered.
Vulcan notes: Irvin also said the UHH administration has approved a director of soccer position in the athletic department and the position will be advertised statewide.
“We hope to expedite the process and get someone on board soon,” Irvin said.