Raveling Weighing Offer to Take Job at Seton Hall

USC basketball Coach George Raveling has been offered the vacant coaching position at Seton Hall, The Times has learned.

Raveling, who has two years remaining on his contract with USC, met with Seton Hall Athletic Director Larry Keating on Wednesday to discuss the opening, then met with USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett on Thursday morning.

According to Seton Hall sources, Raveling, who has coached at USC for eight seasons, is seriously considering the position.

When asked Thursday at UC Irvine, where he has been coaching the U.S. national team in preparation for the Goodwill Games this month in Russia, Raveling declined to discuss the matter.

“It is inappropriate for me to get involved in a public dialogue about the situation at this time,” he said.

Garrett was unavailable for comment Thursday.

For the last two weeks, Seton Hall, located in East Orange, N.J., has been conducting a nationwide search for a replacement for P.J. Carlesimo, who left to become coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The only other coach contacted by Seton Hall is Florida State’s Pat Kennedy, who turned down the position late last week.

“We’re looking to hit a home run and we need to do it quickly,” Keating said of his search. “We are looking for a proven coach, who’s a proven recruiter, and because of our location, has proven to be able to deal with the media.”

Raveling, 57, has a 336-292 record in 22 years as a college head coach.

It is believed that Raveling, who reportedly made $200,000 last season, has been offered a contract worth more than Carlesimo’s. That contract paid Carlesimo $400,000 for the 1993-94 season.

With three scrimmages scheduled for the U.S. national team over the weekend and the team leaving for Russia next Friday, Raveling is expected to make his decision early next week.

Raveling, who has led three schools--USC, Iowa and Washington State--to the NCAA tournament, has a 115-118 record with the Trojans.

He has coached the Trojans to four consecutive postseason tournament berths but is coming off a 16-12 season in which USC finished seventh in the Pacific 10 Conference and lost in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament to Fresno State.