Tarkanian Says He Is Interested in San Diego State Coaching Job

Jerry Tarkanian, Nevada Las Vegas basketball coach, confirmed his interest in the San Diego State coaching job Saturday, but university President Tom Day is opposed to Tarkanian, athletic department sources said.

The sources said that Fred Miller, Aztec athletic director, has met with Day at least twice regarding Tarkanian and that Day has had a negative reaction during each discussion. Day fears that Tarkanian’s problems with the NCAA might tarnish the university’s reputation, the sources said.

Day and Miller declined to comment on Tarkanian Saturday.

Tarkanian, while confirming interest in the Aztec job Saturday, said that he has not spoken with Miller--Tarkanian’s boss at Cal State Long Beach--since the firing of Jim Brandenburg on Tuesday.

“I’m definitely interested in finding out more about the job,” Tarkanian said. “Fred and I talk all the time, but he had a coach, so (a job offer) never came up.”