Wilton top candidate for BYU head coaching job

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton has emerged as the top candidate for the head coaching job at Brigham Young University.

Carl McGown, 65, who led the Cougars to the national championship last year, announced he is resigning at the end of the season.

McGown and Wilton are close friends. Three years ago, Wilton turned down an invitation to join the BYU coaching staff as an assistant coach — a position that would have made him the heir apparent to McGown.

"In every kind of athletic program across the United States — football, basketball, baseball — assistants in programs that are successful have a really, really good chance of taking over when the head coach leaves," McGown said.

When asked about the vacancy, Wilton said, "I'm the coach at the University of Hawai'i. The only thing on my mind is getting my guys ready for Long Beach State" in Saturday's playoff match.

In February, Wilton received a contract extension that expires in August. The contract is being amended because it lists the expiration date as Aug. 15, five days before the 10th anniversary of Wilton being named UH's head coach. UH employees need to work at least 10 years to become vested in the retirement program.

"So far, the university has wanted me be to be the coach until August," Wilton said. "I will continue to do what I've always done — giving the job everything I've got. I'm coaching this team for what it's worth down the stretch, to see if we can put together a nice title run."

Wilton is a member of the Mormon church, which administers BYU. But Wilton and his wife have four grandchildren living in Hawai'i, and he said, "Family is a top priority." His mother and sister live in Santa Barbara, Calif. Wilton's only relative living in Utah is a son, Mike Jr., a senior at BYU.

McGown said Wilton meets the criteria.

"He's successful at Hawai'i," McGown said. "BYU has been successful. Why couldn't the two have success together?"

McGown said BYU's first preference is to hire a coach who is a member of the Mormon church. McGown said several possible candidates have "distinction," but "none are members of the Mormon church. That's a very high priority for (BYU officials). Mike has distinction and is a preferred church member. That gives him a leg up."

Wilton receives an annual package estimated at $67,500. McGown said the salary for a BYU head coach would be smaller. But factoring Provo's lower cost of living, McGown said, BYU's salary "is comparable to" UH's. McGown said BYU's privacy rules prohibit him from releasing exact salary figures.

"Clearly, Mike is a fit for the job," McGown said.