List of Hopefuls for SDSU Job Still Growing : Basketball: Yale coach, Two Arizona assistants, others being considered to replace fired Coach Jim Brandenburg.

Yale Coach Dick Kuchen, Pepperdine Coach Tom Asbury, two Arizona assistant coaches and a UCLA assistant are on San Diego State’s expanding list of candidates to succeed Jim Brandenburg, several people familiar with the hiring process said Tuesday.

And while Nevada Las Vegas Coach Jerry Tarkanian reiterated his interest in the Aztec job Tuesday, SDSU sources said that university President Tom Day and his advisers continue to be skeptical regarding Tarkanian.

Sources said that SDSU Athletic Director Fred Miller, who is in New York through Thursday, interviewed Kuchen earlier this week.

And while Miller wouldn’t comment on Kuchen or any other aspect of SDSU’s hiring process, Arizona Coach Lute Olson said Tuesday he has discussed Jessie Evans and Tony McAndrews, Wildcat assistants, with Miller.

And, others indicated that SDSU plans to talk with UCLA assistant Tony Fuller later this week and Cal State Bakersfield Coach Pat Douglass soon.

The Aztec job is scheduled to be officially posted today, and a three-man search committee has been appointed to interview candidates and eventually select Brandenburg’s successor--Miller, John Wadas, an associate athletic director responsible for basketball, and Reggie Blaylock, an assistant athletic director.

Olson said Miller telephoned him about a week ago to inquire about the two Arizona assistants.

“I think it was in the early stages where they were checking into a number of people,” Olson said. “I got the feeling (Miller) was just getting preliminary background data. Also, I think he wanted to check on what our position would be in terms of if (SDSU) was interested in them.”

If the Aztecs do decide to make an offer to either coach before the Arizona season ends, Olson said he will not stand in the way.

“I understand that some coaches don’t want their assistants to do anything during the season,” said Olson, whose Wildcats are 20-4 and ranked fifth nationally. “We want our assistants to take advantage of the best opportunities.”

Olson said that both Evans and McAndrews told him they are interested in the SDSU job.

“Both had indicated to me an interest when it opened,” Olson said. “When Fred Miller called me, I indicated their interest to him.”

Evans, 41, is in his fourth year at Arizona. Previously, he was an assistant coach for two years each at Texas, Wyoming and SDSU and was an assistant at Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. While at Wyoming, Evans, an Eastern Michigan graduate, worked under Brandenburg.

McAndrews, 49, was the head coach from 1981 to 1987 at Colorado State, where he compiled a 80-120 record. He is in his fifth year at Arizona. He also worked under Olson at Iowa (1976-1980) and was an assistant at Penn State (1975), Richmond (1974), Detroit (1972-73) and St. Ambrose (1970-71).

Both Evans and McAndrews are considered premier recruiters. Olson said he thinks both men are ready for a head coaching job.

“Both have excellent backgrounds in general,” Olson said. “Both are excellent recruiters as evidenced by our recognition this year in the top 10 in the country.

“Both are excellent from the standpoint of public relations and community involvement. I think they are both ready to step out onto their own if the opportunity is right.”

Neither Evans nor McAndrews was available for comment Tuesday. Each was recruiting and is expected to rejoin the Wildcats in Oregon for Thursday’s game at Oregon State.

Miller is in New York this week with SDSU football Coach Al Luginbill to meet with ESPN representatives regarding next fall’s football schedule. Kuchen was out of the office Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. A Yale assistant coach said Kuchen was in New York recruiting.

Harold Woodsum, Yale athletic director, said he had not been approached by Miller regarding Kuchen.

“Nobody has talked to me about that,” Woodsum said. “This is the first I’ve heard about it. We played (SDSU) in January--that’s the only connection I can think of.”

Yale is 14-8 under Kuchen this year, 4-6 in the Ivy League. Kuchen, 45, is in his sixth year at Yale after seven seasons as the head coach at Cal. He spent four years as an assistant at Notre Dame under Digger Phelps (1975-78) and was an assistant at Iowa for six years (1970-1975).

Fuller, 33, is in his fourth year at UCLA. Previously, he was at Pepperdine as a graduate assistant (1982-83), a part-time assistant (1983-1985) and a full-time assistant (1985-1988). A two-year starter for Pepperdine, he also played with the Detroit Pistons and the Anchorage Knights of the Continental Basketball Assn.

Also, sources say that Asbury and Douglass are on SDSU’s short list.

Asbury, 46, who is in his fourth season at Pepperdine, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The Waves have clinched their second consecutive West Coast Conference title under Asbury and have won 28 consecutive conference games.

Douglass, 42, said Tuesday that he has not yet had any discussions with Aztec officials but said he is interested in the position if there is enough of a commitment on SDSU’s part so that Douglass can “continue to be successful.”

Cal State Bakersfield is 21-5 this season and has advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four in three of Douglass’ five seasons.

Miller has said that he would like to fill the position by mid-March, although it might take longer if the Aztecs are interested in a coach involved in the NCAA tournament. First-round games do not begin until March 19, and the championship game isn’t until April 6.

Still, SDSU doesn’t have much time to waste. The first day high school seniors can sign a national letter of intent is April 15, and the longer the delay in naming a coach, the more damage is done to recruiting. The Aztecs have two scholarships to offer.

SDSU is going shopping with limited funds. The athletic department only recently balanced its budget and, with budget cuts taking place throughout the California State University system, cannot afford a high-priced coach. Brandenburg’s total SDSU package was worth about $120,000 a year, including base salary, radio and television contracts and youth-related activities, such as speaking. Outside activities such as a shoe contract and basketball camps bumped his package up to approximately $150,000 annually.

Upper-echelon college jobs usually offer a coach at least $200,000. UCLA’s Jim Harrick makes just less than $400,000, which is considered the low end of the high profile programs. At Arizona, for example, Olson makes about $800,000.

Aztec officials are also apparently looking beyond the basketball court as they evaluate prospects. Fewer than five of Brandenburg’s recruits since 1987 have graduated--including community college transfers.

It is said that Day has been extremely unhappy with the academic performance of Aztec basketball players and that whomever is named as the new coach will be expected to upgrade SDSU’s performance off of the court as well as on.