THE SIDELINES : SDSU’s Hanks Takes Drake Job

San Diego State assistant basketball coach Maury Hanks resigned today to accept a similar position at Drake University. Hanks, an Aztecs assistant since 1987, said the opportunity to work with Drake’s new head coach, Rudy Washington, is too good to pass up.

“You don’t get to work with your best friend every day,” Hanks said of Washington, whom he met 10 years ago when Washington was an assistant coach at USC.

“It was a real hard decision leaving . . . a respected head coach like (San Diego State’s) Jim Brandenburg and a program that next year should have some success with the players they have returning. But I think it will be a great opportunity.”

Hanks, 27, was an assistant at Clemson for two years before he came to San Diego State in 1987. Brandenburg said he will start looking for a new assistant after he has finished recruiting.