Considering the competition, being turned down for the Oklahoma baseball coaching position wasn't such a blow to Hawai'i's Mike Trapasso.

The Rainbows' fourth-year coach was among three candidates who interviewed for the Sooners' job that became vacant with the resignation of Larry Cochell in May after making racially insensitive remarks about a Sooners' player. Yesterday, interim coach Sonny Golloway was introduced as Cochell's successor. It came four days after Wichita State's Gene Stephenson accepted the job, only to change his mind the next day.

Golloway was head coach at Oral Roberts for eight years (335-156) before becoming an assistant at Oklahoma two years ago. Stephenson is among the winningest coaches in NCAA history with 1,506 wins in 28 seasons.

"This whole experience has been positive for me," said Trapasso, who was in Los Angeles recruiting yesterday. "The fact that (Oklahoma athletic director) Joe Castiglione called me to come in for an interview, just to even be in the mix, is very flattering and something I feel fortunate to have taken part in.

I don't think it does anything but help our program here at UH because it shows that athletic directors at top 10, top 20-type programs are seeing what we're doing here is moving forward. Now our goal is to put Hawai'i in that same category."

Trapasso said he does not personally know Golloway, but saw the logic in his hiring.

"You can't argue when an internal person is hired," he said. "It's always a good thing. It makes sense on their end; they're very embarrassed by what has transpired over the last weekend (with the Stephenson situation). They had to take a path with least resistance."

Oklahoma seemed ideal for Trapasso. He pitched at Oklahoma State in 1984 and 1985 and has family ties from that state and neighboring Missouri, where he is from. But it isn't as if he is not in a good position here. He just completed the first year of a five-year contract extension.

"It was a great experience," Trapasso said of taking part in the job search. "I'm glad that it is over and (glad) to get back to work (for UH). It's a great place I'm working at. I'm working for a great athletic director (Herman Frazier) and I'm glad to get back into it now."

The Rainbows were 28-27 for their third winning season in a row and finished third at 15-14 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Meanwhile, assistant Travis Janssen will not return to UH next season.

"Travis is going back to the Mainland to pursue other opportunities and we wish him all the best," Trapasso said.

Janssen came here last year from Northwestern State in Louisiana to replace Brian Green, who left here after two seasons to become an assistant at UCLA. Janssen was in charge of hitters and infielders. A search will be conducted for his replacement.

Also, in a graphic in Wednesday's edition, pitcher Darrell Fisherbaugh was all-WAC second team in 2004. Another player was listed in the graphic.