UNLV Chooses Murphy, Five Others for Interviews

Cal State Fullerton’s Gene Murphy is one of six candidates chosen to be interviewed for the Nevada Las Vegas football coaching job, UNLV announced Monday.

Portland State Coach Pokey Allen, Ram assistant Artie Gigantino, Fresno State assistant Pat Hill, Houston offensive coordinator John Jenkins and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Jim Strong also will be invited to interview at the school beginning Wednesday, said Joyce Aschenbrenner, UNLV sports information director.

UNLV is seeking a replacement for Wayne Nunnely, who resigned Nov. 21 after four seasons, finishing with a 19-25 record, including 4-7 this season.

The six finalists were chosen from a pool of applicants by a 17-member committee, Aschenbrenner said. UNLV hopes to name a coach by Christmas, said Brad Rothermel, athletic director.

Murphy, 50, was away on a recruiting trip Monday and could not be reached for comment. He guided the Titans to a 6-4-1 record this season, Fullerton’s best record since the Titans were 11-1 in 1984, Murphy’s fifth season at Fullerton.

Fullerton has beaten UNLV in each of the past three seasons, but Murphy has said that he is interested in the job at UNLV, a Big West Conference rival, in part because the school has better facilities and a larger budget than Fullerton.

UNLV plays in the 32,000-seat Sam Boyd Silver Bowl. Fullerton shares 10,000-seat Santa Ana Stadium, which was dedicated in 1932, with several high schools and a community college. Ground breaking for a planned 10,000-seat on-campus stadium has been repeatedly delayed, and the facility is now scheduled to open in time for the 1992 season.

Fullerton operates its program on a tight budget with a limited scholarship fund.

Last month, in response to reports of Murphy’s interest in the UNLV job, Cal State Fullerton President Jewel Plummer Cobb pledged up to 20 additional scholarships in a plea for Murphy to remain as coach.

But athletic department officials said although Fullerton currently has 76 players on scholarship, many of those players are on partial scholarship. The current scholarship level is the equivalent of slightly less than 60 full scholarships, at least 35 below the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. maximum of 95.

Before taking the Fullerton job, Murphy had a record of 15-7 in two seasons as coach at North Dakota. In 10 seasons at Fullerton, he has a record of 54-60-1, not including two forfeit victories.