THE SIDELINES : Coleman Named CW Cage Coach

Gil Coleman was named the new basketball coach at Central Washington University today, even as former coach Dean Nicholson clouded the waters with reports that he may rescind his resignation.

Coleman, 33, signed a one-year contract and is the first non-Nicholson to lead the NAIA school’s basketball program since 1929. Leo Nicholson was named coach that year and his son, Dean, succeeded him in 1965.

To satisfy affirmative action guidelines, Coleman, an assistant coach under Nicholson last season, will have to reapply for the position next December when the school begins a nationwide search for a permanent coach, Frederick said.

The school’s announcement made no mention of reports that Nicholson plans to take back the resignation he offered April 2, after a university auditor found that he improperly distributed more than $65,000 of his basketball camp revenues to 49 players over the last three years.