UCLA Interviews Homer Smith : College football: Bruin players are told that he is one of several being considered for offensive coordinator job.

Homer Smith, who twice served as offensive coordinator for UCLA’s football team, has been interviewed for the position again, officials at the University of Alabama confirmed.

Smith is one of several coaches being considered, Bruin Coach Terry Donahue told players Monday at a team meeting.

Donahue did not name the other candidates, according to players.

Smith and Donahue could not be reached for comment.

Smith, who helped lead Alabama to the Sugar Bowl this season, is considered one of the country’s best offensive coordinators. Furthermore, he was popular during his two- and seven-year tenures at UCLA.

Steve Townsend, an assistant athletic director at Alabama, said Smith flew to Los Angeles Friday to evaluate the situation.

Smith is not expected to return to Alabama where he has three years remaining on a four-year contract. Bill Curry, the Alabama coach who hired Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs in 1987, was named Kentucky’s head coach Monday.

Smith also is not expected to join Curry at Kentucky because he is upset with Curry’s handling of the job change, Alabama officials said.

A big factor in Smith’s decision to return to Westwood will be family considerations, said Rob Ianello, an Alabama assistant who is close to Smith.

Smith’s wife, Kathy, wants to stay in the East because two daughters live in Atlanta and Massachusetts.

In a recent interview with The Times, Smith said of Westwood:

“Miss (UCLA)? Of course I do. I’ve got blue and gold all over the place. I miss it very much.”

Some say not as much as the Bruins miss him.

In Smith’s nine seasons at UCLA, the Bruins won 76 games, including five consecutive bowl games. Three were in the Rose Bowl.

Smith coached offenses for teams that went 17-5 for Coach Pepper Rogers in 1972-73, and 59-19-5 for Donahue in 1980-86.

Included in those victories was impressive offensive football that UCLA supporters began to expect.

With Steve Axman as offensive coordinator in 1987-88, UCLA was 20-4.

Last season, however, the Bruins produced their worst record since 1971 with a 3-7-1 record. Not even a 10-10 tie against Rose Bowl-bound USC slowed the criticism by UCLA fans.

Donahue said after the season he would reorganize his staff in an attempt to regroup quickly. He named 1989 offensive coordinator, Greg Robinson, assistant head coach, and fired three first-year assistants: Larry Kerr, Dave Currey and Mike Waufle.

Donahue plans to hire linebacker and receiver coaches, depending on who becomes offensive coordinator.

The prospect of hiring Smith has excited Bruin players, and according to one, “Everybody would like that a lot.”

Said Frank Ganz, a special teams coach with the Detroit Lions who hired Smith from UCLA to join Kansas City’s staff: “(Smith is) the type of coach who really sets standards for people who want to be coaches. He’s committed to the highest standards of excellence in the profession.”