Nevada Passes on Titan Coach Holland : College basketball: Wolf Pack selects Houston’s Pat Foster to direct team next season.

A key step toward stability next season in the Cal State Fullerton basketball program came around 7 a.m. Monday, when Nevada Athletic Director Chris Ault telephoned Titan Coach Brad Holland and informed him that the Wolf Pack had chosen Houston Coach Pat Foster as basketball coach.

Holland interviewed at Nevada last Tuesday and was one of six candidates to replace Coach Len Stevens, who was fired this month. Foster’s five-year contract is worth nearly $1 million, according to a Nevada source.

“It was neck and neck, nearly a dead heat, between Foster and Holland,” the source said. “The decision basically was one where here you have a very bright, up-and-coming coach who did a hell of a job this year, and who is a class individual, versus a veteran, a guy who has missed only one postseason tournament in (13) years.

“It was both ends of the spectrum, and our program needed an immediate injection.”

Ault had approached Bill Shumard, Fullerton athletic director, March 14 to ask permission to speak to Holland.

Nevada also interviewed former Laker and Loyola Marymount Coach Paul Westhead; Sherman Dillard, an assistant at Georgia Tech; Herb Sendek, an assistant at Kentucky; and Jessie Evans, an assistant at Arizona, before narrowing it down to Foster and Holland.

Entering this season, Foster was ranked 18th in winning percentage among active NCAA Division I coaches at 69.3%.

“I always think things work out for the best,” Holland said. “I’ve been focused for Fullerton lately and I’m just moving ahead here, I’m not stopping.”

Holland said he doesn’t think his courting by Nevada will hurt Fullerton’s recruiting.

“I don’t think it has,” he said. “I haven’t gotten any negative feedback.

“I look at this as a positive experience. I’m looking forward to our year next year and to getting some recruiting done.”

Despite giving Ault permission to speak to Holland, Shumard was happy to learn Holland will return to Fullerton next year.

“Their loss is our gain,” Shumard said. “We’re pleased. Anytime you hire good people, you can expect that they are going to have other opportunities.

“We’re happy with the progress the program has made and we’re happy Coach Holland will be around to continue to build our program.”

At Fullerton, Holland receives a salary of $70,000, plus a $10,000 annual salary augmentation from Titan boosters. In addition, he has the opportunity to make more through a camp and shoe contract.

Shumard said Nevada is the only school that has asked permission to speak with the Titan coach.