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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, February 18, 2005

BYU picks assistant over UH's Wilton

Advertiser Staff

Mike Wilton will remain as head coach of the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team.

MIKE WILTON
Wilton was a candidate to become the next head coach of the Brigham Young University women's volleyball team. But BYU officials yesterday told Wilton they will promote Cougar assistant coach Jason Watson.

"He's a good guy and a good coach," Wilton said of Watson.

Wilton was the only candidate brought in for an interview. BYU paid for Wilton's two-day trip to the Provo, Utah, campus last week.

Wilton said he considered the BYU job because of "family matters." He has declined to specify his reasons. Wilton is a high priest in the Mormon church, which administers BYU. His wife, Ku'ulei, is a researcher for the church.

Wilton said he did not know what he would have done if he were offered the job. "It's a pretty strong pull, a really strong pull," he said. "It would have required some soul searching. It's moot now."

Wilton said BYU was the only other school he would consider. "I was thinking, as this was playing out, this is providential, actually," he said. "I was looking at it that way."

Wilton, 60, is in his 13th season at UH. His three-year contract expires on May 31.