McKnight Says He’ll Interview for Utah State Job on Sunday

LONG BEACH â€”  Mater Dei basketball Coach Gary McKnight met informally with Utah State officials Friday night about the Aggies’ coaching vacancy and will interview for the position Sunday.

McKnight, who has a 319-27 record in 11 seasons at Mater Dei, attended the Aggies’ 104-86 loss to Nevada Las Vegas Friday night in the first round of the Big West Tournament at the Long Beach Arena.

He sat in the stands with Chuck Bell, Utah State’s new athletic director, and other school officials. He said he will interview with Bell Sunday in Long Beach.

“Things went well,� said McKnight, whose Mater Dei team meets Los Angeles Crenshaw in the Southern California finals tonight at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. “I think Utah State could be a very good team in the next few years. They have some very good players.�

Besides McKnight, three other coaches are reportedly under consideration--Hawaii’s Rily Wallace, Idaho’s Larry Eustacey and Fred Trenkle of South Idaho College.

The position was vacated by Kohn Smith, who was told last month by school officials that he would not be back next season.

McKnight has shown interest in the UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton jobs in recent years but never had an official interview.

Last weekend, Mater Dei (33-1) won its eighth Southern Section title in 11 seasons under McKnight. The Monarchs won the 1990 State Division I title and lost in the finals last year to Alameda St. Joseph and Jason Kidd.