THE COLLEGES : Five Finalists Still in Running for PCAA Post

Dennis Farrell, Jim Haney and B.J. Skelton are three of the five finalists who are still in the running for the position of Pacific Athletic Assn. commissioner, a source close to the selection process said.

Farrell was in his eighth year as assistant PCAA commissioner under Lewis Cryer when Cryer resigned in December to become commissioner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Assn. Farrell is now the acting PCAA commissioner. Haney, a former basketball coach at Oregon, is the Missouri Conference commissioner. Skelton is Clemson’s director of admissions and faculty representative.

John Kassar, associate executive director of the College Football Assn., was considered to be a leading candidate but withdrew his name and will enter private business.

A search committee screening applicants will begin interviewing the finalists later this month.

The 12-member committee would like to name Cryer’s successor during the PCAA basketball tournament scheduled March 9-12 at the Forum in Inglewood.