Bob Boyd the Leading Candidate in Chapman’s Search for Coach

A Chapman College official said Tuesday that Bob Boyd, interim basketball coach at Riverside Community College, is the leading candidate for the men’s basketball coaching position at Chapman.

Boyd, a former coach at USC, was one of five people interviewed for the position.

The school is expected to name a men’s basketball coach within two weeks, Athletic Director Walt Bowman said Tuesday. But neither Boyd nor Bowman would comment on Boyd’s chances.

The seven-member search committee finished its interviews Monday and is expected to make its choice before the end of the week. But the announcement will be postponed until the Panthers’ season has ended.

“The committee will discuss the candidates and make a decision, we hope, by next week,” Bowman said.

Also interviewed were Bob Schermerhorn, interim coach at Arizona State; Dave Holmquist, coach at Biola College; Tim Sweeney, coach at Lakewood High School, and Rich Prospero, interim coach at Chapman.

Sources close to the Chapman program said Boyd, who lives in Palm Desert, is asking that the college provide an apartment for him to live in during the week. He also is reportedly requesting a salary higher than what was being offered, sources said.

A Chapman official said the selection committee planned to negotiate with Boyd this week.

Prospero, who has guided the Panthers to a 16-11 record and a berth in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. playoffs, said Tuesday that he might be willing to remain with the program as an assistant if he does not get the head coaching job.

He met with Holmquist, also considered a committee favorite, on Monday and has a meeting scheduled with Boyd today.

Under Prospero, the Panthers finished tied for third with Cal State Bakersfield in conference play.

Chapman plays Cal State Dominguez Hills in the conference playoffs Friday at Riverside Community College.

“I would like to go on record as saying Rich Prospero has done an excellent job,” Bowman said on Saturday. “I think he deserves coach of the year in conference.”

But even if the Panthers win the conference tournament to qualify for the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division II playoffs, it may not enhance Prospero’s chance.

“He is still a dark horse,” Bowman said.