Master’s Confers With Hankinson on a Successor : College basketball: Outgoing coach headed to West Virginia as an assistant. Recently hired Bone a possible replacement.

Outgoing basketball Coach Mel Hankinson met with The Master’s College administrators Tuesday to recommend a successor, although neither Hankinson nor the school would reveal the name of the candidate.

Hankinson, The Master’s coach and athletic director of five seasons, accepted an assistant coaching position at West Virginia on Monday.

“I have someone I’d like to recommend,” said Hankinson, 49, who last season was named National Christian College coach of the year. “I’m an adviser, not a selector. We have been flooded with calls about the opening.

“We’re in a time trap. We want to move as rapidly as possible.”

A candidate will be interviewed today for the position, according to Hankinson, who has offered to remain at the school for two weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

One possible replacement is Len Bone, who was hired two weeks ago as a Master’s assistant. Bone, a successful high school coach from University High in Spokane, Wash., has been recruiting and is scheduled to make his first visit to The Master’s campus this week.

Hankinson leaves a Mustang team that finished 20-12 last season and will have three returning starters, including powerful center Emeka Okenwa, who averaged 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds. Marc Davidson, a highly regarded transfer from Illinois, also is on the roster.

“We feel this is the best talent we’ve had,” said Hankinson, who was 99-68 at The Master’s. “We want someone seasoned who can coach and pour himself into a ready-made team. This team could be a national (NAIA) contender.”

The new coach also must fit into The Master’s religious environment.

“Philosophically, The Master’s will draw a type of candidate much like St. Mary’s or Yeshiva draws a certain type of candidate,” Hankinson said. “(The Master’s) has an interdenominational Christian church base. We will draw that type of applicant.”