WSU Interviews Two Coaches

Colorado State’s Ritchie McKay, who signed a new five-year deal with the Rams on Wednesday, may no longer be talking to Washington State University about its men’s basketball coaching position, but Utah assistant Donny Daniels and Cal State-Northridge coach Bobby Braswell are.

Both Daniels and Braswell interviewed with WSU athletic director Rick Dickson in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Daniels, 44, just completed his ninth season with the Utes and Rick Majerus. A native of Southern California, he is the lead recruiter for Utah and coaches the post players.

“Donny has an infectious personality. He is enthusiastic and has done a nice job with the big men,” said Majerus. “He works with our inside people and has been very loyal.”

Daniels’ only head coaching experience came at Harbor Junior College in Wilmington, Calif., for two years in the mid-1980s.

Braswell, a former University of Oregon assistant, has a 43-42 overall record in three seasons. The Matadors were 17-11 this season.

Braswell has strong recruiting ties to Los Angeles, where he started his coaching career at Cleveland High School.

Current Oregon assistant Don Newman still appears to be the front-runner. Gonzaga’s Dan Monson has remained tight-lipped about the situation. Kentucky assistant coach George Felton, a former Oregon State assistant, remains on the list, but may not be a top contender for the post.

“A guy like George is very capable,” said UK coach Tubby Smith. `He would be a big help to them.”

When asked if Felton, who was 82-67 in five years as coach at South Carolina, was looking to leave after two years with the Wildcats, Smith said, “Not necessarily, but if the right opportunity came up …”

Paul Hewitt of Sienna and Bob Williams, the first-year coach of UC Santa Barbara, have also been rumored as possible candidates. Dickson, who will not comment to the press about the specifics of the coaching search, said he hopes to have a new coach in place around the time of the Final Four.