Aztec AD Race: Rinehart Out; Devine Unsure

Bob Rinehart, acting athletic director at San Diego State, is out of the running for the permanent position. Dan Devine, another candidate, is not sure whether he is still in the picture.

Rinehart was scheduled to have lunch Monday with Ron Fowler, chairman of SDSU’s search committee, but it was canceled. Neither Fowler nor SDSU President Thomas Day were available for comment Tuesday, according to spokeswomen in their offices.

Sources within San Diego State said Rinehart, 53, is upset he was not even given an interview by the committee. He is expected to return to his position as a biology teacher at SDSU next semester.

Day appointed Rinehart as acting athletic director Aug. 22, after Mary Alice Hill was fired. At the time, Rinehart said he would accept the position as a favor.

Meanwhile, Devine may have been doing the search committee a favor by appearing in San Diego for an interview this week. Devine, 60, is director of the Sun Angel Foundation, Arizona State’s prime athletic support group. He formerly coached football at Arizona State, Missouri, Notre Dame and with the Green Bay Packers.

Devine said he had “mutually benefical” talks with the SDSU search committee.

“I really don’t know if I am a candidate or not,” Devine said. “I haven’t made up my mind. I don’t know enough about the job to say whether it is something I would do. I’m very happy with what I’m doing, but I was very impressed with the people in San Diego.”

According to Devine, he talked at length with the committee regarding SDSU’s bleak financial situation. The committee expressed its interest in upgrading athletic facilities at SDSU, as well as raising more money within the community.

“Maybe they learned something picking my brain,” Devine said. “I don’t feel like it was a waste of time. It’s up to them and me, both, (to decide) whether we want to pursue it any further.”

Among the confirmed candidates are Fred Miller, former athletic director at Arizona State; Randy Hoffman, associate athletic director at Maryland; and Vance Redfern, associate athletic director at Illinois.