Fullerton Baseball Hiring Is Stalled : Talks With Cochell End; Assistant Named Interim Coach

Cal State Fullerton’s efforts to name a successor to baseball coach Augie Garrido by Sept. 1 apparently have stalled after discussions with Northwestern Coach Larry Cochell ended Friday afternoon.

It was the third time in less than a week that talks have ended with an apparent front-runner, and Athletic Director Ed Carroll named Dick Larner, a Fullerton assistant coach, as interim coach.

Steve DiTolla, associate athletic director and chairman of the five-member search committee, said Fullerton and Cochell had been “pretty close” to agreeing, but that the job was never offered.

Cochell, reached after he returned to his home in Illinois Friday night, also said the job was not offered.

“We agreed mutually that it was not in the best interest of either party,” Cochell said. “If something’s not right for you, you know it. I think it’s a good job for the right guy.”

Fullerton administrators Thursday night had said an announcement of Garrido’s replacement might come as soon as Friday afternoon. Now that talks have ended with Cochell, the school has abandoned its original plan to name a successor by Sept. 1, in time for the new coach to undertake administrative duties as students begin class.

Referring to the naming of Larner as interim coach, DiTolla said: “We did that because of the kids coming in. That takes care of the Sept. 1 issue. We don’t want to hire a coach who’s not right for our program. We’re still looking for the best coach available.”

Loyola Marymount’s Dave Snow, a former Fullerton assistant under Garrido and the early front-runner for the job, withdrew last weekend for “personal” reasons after informal discussions with Fullerton administrators.

Cerritos College Coach George Horton, a former Fullerton player and another previous front-runner, withdrew Tuesday, saying he was “not interested” in the $80,000 fund-raising required in the job.

Neither DiTolla nor Cochell named a central issue in the failure to reach agreement.

The only candidate who has been interviewed but has not withdrawn is UC Riverside Coach Jack Smitheran, who has coached the school to two NCAA Division II championships.

Although Fullerton is in the process of contacting other coaches to be interviewed, DiTolla said Smitheran remains a candidate.