Westhead Denies Report That Says He Will Replace Loyola’s Goorjian

Loyola Marymount University basketball Coach Ed Goorjian maintained his tenuous hold on his job, at least through Wednesday night, amid a report broadcast by Chick Hearn before Wednesday night’s televised Lakers game in which Hearn said that Goorjian was being replaced by former Laker Coach Paul Westhead.

Hearn quoted the Santa Monica Evening Outlook in the report.

Westhead, reached at his home, said he has “categorically had no conversations with anyone at Loyola.”

A Loyola spokesman confirmed that.

Westhead added: “I don’t know the status of Ed Goorjian and I do know the status of me. I’ve had no conversations with them.”

Westhead currently is an English teacher at Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes. He is thought to be a candidate for the coaching job at the University of Washington and also was reported to be a finalist for the job at the University of Hawaii.

Goorjian’s five-year reign at Loyola has been the subject of serious administration discussions this week. The school’s athletic board met Monday night to make its recommendations. The Rev. James N. Loughran, school president, is expected to make a decision by the end of the week.

Goorjian’s five-year record at Loyola is 45-91.