Hawking Named Interim Coach at CS Fullerton

Bob Hawking, Don MacLean’s coach at Simi Valley High, was named Cal State Fullerton’s interim basketball coach Thursday, fulfilling what he called a lifelong dream to run a Division I program.

John Easterbrook, in his third day as Fullerton athletic director, said he thought it was important to move quickly to replace former coach Brad Holland, who left Monday for the University of San Diego.

Easterbrook said the job would be posted near the end of the season, and Hawking vowed to to try to win it.

Preseason practice begins Oct. 15, and the Titans play their first regular-season game Nov. 29 at home against Cal State Northridge, Hawking’s alma mater.

Hawking, 44, was Holland’s top assistant for two years, and an assistant at Pepperdine and UC Davis before that. Hawking coached at Simi Valley for 14 years, where he had a successful reign with MacLean, a former UCLA star who plays for the Washington Bullets.

“Bob certainly has the background and training to be our basketball coach for this year,” Easterbrook said.

Holland, who recommended Hawking for the job, said: “I’m pleased the university made this decision. His title was assistant, but he’s always been a head coach.”

Hawking said the transition would be smooth and had no plans to change the team’s style.

“I played for Denny Crum for two years at Pierce College, and we were doing the same things in Woodland Hills that John Wooden was doing over at Pauley Pavilion,” he said. “Brad (a former Bruin star) and I do have some of the same basketball background.”

Hawking said George Fuller, who recently was hired by Holland, will be his top assistant.