Murphy Is Finalist for Cougar Job

Cal State Fullerton football Coach Gene Murphy confirmed Monday night that he is among the finalists for the vacant coaching position at Washington State.

Murphy said he met with Washington State Athletic Director Dick Young early last week and that Young has since informed him that school officials will appoint a new coach “within the next 24 to 36 hours.”

“I’ve been told I’m one of eight guys they’ve talked to, and that I’m one of the top three guys,” Murphy said by phone from San Diego, where he was attending a coaches’ convention.

A member of the screening committee appointed to select the Cougars’ new coach said that Murphy was a “very strong candidate” to succeed former Coach Jim Walden. Dave Currey, the former Cal State Long Beach coach now at Cincinnati; Weber State Coach Mike Price, Wyoming Coach Dennis Erickson and Miami assistant Dave Warmstead are others reportedly being considered by Young.

Fullerton Athletic Director Ed Carroll maintained his long-standing policy of neither confirming nor denying that interest had been expressed in Murphy.

“Gene’s our coach and we hope to have him here until he retires,” Carroll said. “He’s already signed his contract for next year. Obviously, if the opportunity he couldn’t refuse came along, we’d have to deal with it at that time.”

Murphy, 37-44 in seven seasons at Fullerton, has been a finalist for coaching positions at Missouri, Oregon State and Utah since guiding the Titans to a 7-5 record in 1983 and 11-1 mark in 1984. The Titans were 3-9 last season. Murphy said after the season that, because of Fullerton’s record, he did not expect to be considered for coaching vacancies.