Northridge Down To Three Finalists For Football Job

A current assistant coach and a former assistant are among the three finalists for the Cal State Northridge head football coach’s position, athletic director Paul Bubb said Friday.

The finalists are Ron Ponciano, San Jose State’s defensive coordinator who coached under Dave Baldwin at CSUN; Jeff Kearin, a Matadors assistant coach, and Tom Mason, Northern Iowa’s defensive coordinator.

Kearin interviews Monday, Ponciano on Tuesday and Mason on Wednesday. Bubb said he hopes to have a final decision by Friday.

“I feel good about the candidates,” Bubb said. “All three have Division I experience as coordinators, have familiarity with our program and (have) their own particular strengths.”

Northridge’s search-and-screen committee will continue to review applications until the position is filled and may conduct additional interviews next week. The job became open when first-year coach Jim Fenwick resigned Jan. 5 to become New Mexico’s offensive coordinator.

None of the candidates are minorities. But African-American applicants like Washington assistant Wayne Moses, Division II Minnesota-Morris coach John Parker and ex-Monterrey Peninsula College coach Ron Mims may still be able to interview for the job.

Bubb said that he had a hard time figuring out the ethnic background of his candidates.

“Unless someone lists themselves as one, we don’t know,” Bubb said. “We’re looking for the best qualified candidate. Do we want a minority candidate? Sure. But we’re looking for the best person whether it’s a minority or not.”

As a first-year defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at San Jose State, Ponciano helped the school improve tremendously and rank seventh nationally in interceptions (20).