Montana State Coach Reportedly Is SDSU Candidate

Stu Starner, who has taken Montana State to the nation’s top two college basketball tournaments the past two years, has interviewed for the head coaching job at San Diego State, according to several Montana newspapers.

Fred Miller, SDSU athletic director, refused comment, maintaining San Diego State’s stand of not commenting about any possible candidates for the head basketball coaching job.

Starner also has refused to comment on the published reports.

According to the stories, Starner spoke with SDSU officials in Los Angeles on Thursday. Montana State lost to Washington, 98-90 in overtime, in Bozeman, Mont., Wednesday night in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Starner, a former assistant coach at Minnesota, has compiled a 60-57 record in four years as head coach at Montana State.

His team was the surprise winner in the Big Sky Conference tournament last season and qualified for the NCAA tournament, only to lose, 83-74, in the first round to St. John’s.

This season, Montana State entered the Big Sky tournament as the favorite but was upset, 106-101, by Weber State in the first round.

The Bobcats then got the NIT bid but lost to Washington and ended their season at 21-8.

According to the published reports, San Diego State officials also have interviewed Alabama-Birmingham Coach Gene Bartow and Nevada Las Vegas assistant Tim Grurgrich, and several other candidates are being considered.

Smokey Gaines resigned at SDSU last month after the Aztecs finished 5-25 overall and tied for last in the Western Athletic Conference with a 2-14 record.