UH delays baseball hiring until after season
| • | TCU overtakes Hawai'i, 6-5, on last at-bat |
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i isn't likely to name a new head baseball coach until after the Rainbows' season ends next month, according to people familiar with the operations of the search committee.
The Rainbows' final game is May 19.
While school officials had hoped to name a coach this month, they have apparently set their eyes on a present head coach, necessitating a postponement. Several head coaches who have asked to be considered for the job have told UH they would not be prepared to accept the job, if offered, until the end of their seasons.
Although Arizona State's Pat Murphy emerged as the early front-runner and has had talks with UH, people involved in the search said athletic director Hugh Yoshida has had conversations with "a couple" coaches.
They said at least two "mystery" coaches whose names did not make the so-called list of finalists have also entered the picture. They are believed to be head coaches.
Yoshida yesterday declined comment other than to confirm that no coach has been hired.
The late signing period for baseball recruits began April 11, but a member of the selection committee said some coaches he has talked to said UH would not be seriously jeopardized by naming a coach at the end of the season. The signing period ends Aug. 1. Many top prospects signed during the November early signing period.
Carl Furutani, who played for the Rainbows from 1973-'77 and assisted Les Murakami since 1980, was named acting coach following Murakami's stroke in November.
