CSUN’s Chandler Likely to Return

Cal State Northridge associate athletic director Judith Brame said Tuesday that the Matador women’s basketball head coaching position could be decided within the next week or two.

Although Brame would not disclose the name or names of anyone being considered for the job, the timing of an announcement before the end of the season would appear to indicate that interim Coach Kim Chandler will remain as coach.

Northridge officials previously intimated that they would not discuss the position until after the Matadors’ season concluded Feb. 27.

Chandler, who assumed her role as interim coach Dec. 12 after the surprise resignation of Janet Martin, said before Tuesday’s 64-43 loss to Cal State Sacramento that she did not wish to comment on the situation until a decision had been cleared through Northridge’s administrative channels.

Chandler did say an announcement on the CSUN coaching position could be expected soon.

While Northridge policy requires the school to conduct a national search for the position, Brame said the athletic department is considering an “emergency hire” that would allow Northridge to name a coach for a specific period of time before conducting a national search.

“It’s in the talking stages,” Brame said. “There is a possibility of doing an emergency hire for a specific period of time. Then there would be a national search.”

Brame said the usual period of time for a coach to be employed as an emergency hire is one year.

Chandler, 26, came to Northridge as Martin’s only assistant this season after spending two years in a similar position at Florida Southern College.

Upon being named interim coach, Chandler was told by Northridge officials to concentrate on recruiting, and she said that she has had a positive response from the high school coaches with whom she has spoken. Chandler also has had a positive relationship with the CSUN players despite the team’s 0-19 record (0-10 with Chandler as coach).

Said Matador junior center Sandi Olson: “(Chandler) works very hard at what she does. Everyone was put in a difficult position in the middle of the season. She did the best she could.”

Staff writer Theresa Munoz contributed to this story.