Mater Dei Coach Is Victim of Hoax : Football: Rollinson was not considered for Oregon job, despite receiving phone call.

Mater Dei football Coach Bruce Rollinson said Monday he was the victim of a hoax that made front-page news.

Rollinson, who had said Sunday that someone from the University of Oregon had asked about his interest in becoming the team’s football coach, actually was never a candidate for the job, a university official said.

Dan Williams, Oregon’s interim athletic director and vice president of administration, said, “I know of (Mater Dei’s) fine football reputation. But his name was brand new to us today.”

Said Rollinson: “We all have been deceived. Whoever called was pretty good--he had a name and all the proper numbers. I don’t know what this person had to gain by deceiving all of us.”

Rollinson said he had been contacted by phone over the weekend by someone who identified himself as an official in the Oregon athletic department.

As reported in Monday’s Times Orange County edition and the Orange County Register, Rollinson said the caller identified himself and asked if the coach was interested in interviewing for the job vacated by Rich Brooks, who had been hired as new coach of the Rams.

The caller even asked Rollinson to fly to Oregon Wednesday for an interview.

But on Monday, Oregon named Mike Bellotti, Brooks’ offensive coordinator last season, as the new coach and said Rollinson had never been considered.

Rollinson learned that he had been duped after contacting Williams to confirm the Wednesday interview. Rollinson then told Williams the name given by the caller, Ken Winstead. Williams said Winstead had not worked at the school for a few years.

“And even then, (Winstead) was a fund-raiser,” Williams said. “If that name was used, I can see how it lent authenticity. But Bruce was never considered by us. I spent all weekend working on (Bellotti). I feel sorry for Rollinson. It was a bad deal.”

Winstead--now an associate athletic director at the University of Houston--said Monday that he left Oregon nearly two years ago. He said he has never met or spoken with Rollinson and had no idea someone was using his name to represent Oregon.

“I figure it must be someone . . . who I came in contact with in Southern California during one of our fund-raising endeavors, or they got my name out of an old media guide,” Winstead said.

“The bottom line is someone did a pull a hoax on the coach. I have never talked to Rollinson. . . . I feel bad for him because he’s been embarrassed. The guy must have sounded legitimate.”

Rollinson--who teaches a history class at Mater Dei on Mondays--was on campus by 7:30 a.m. and receiving congratulations.

“A few people were asking about the details, and I was telling them the same thing I told (reporters),” he said.

“People have been sympathetic. But why would somebody do this? I can’t really answer. Maybe it’s part of the success we’ve had here. There are those out there who choose to get their sick laughs at the expense of others.”

Rollinson has compiled a 62-15-1 record in his six seasons at Mater Dei. In 1994, Mater Dei finished 14-0 and won the Southern Section Division I championship.

“Life goes on,” Rollinson said. “Now I don’t have any major decisions to make. I’ll just put a smile on my face and keep going.”