Hawking Is Among Finalists : Basketball: Interim coach joins Utah assistant Donny Daniels and Riverside College’s Bob Schermerhorn as candidates for Titan job.

Three finalists for the Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball coaching position have been selected and interim Coach Bob Hawking and Utah assistant Donny Daniels, who have been generally regarded as the leading candidates, are among them.

The other is Bob Schermerhorn, Riverside College coach the last six years.

They confirmed Thursday that they have been invited for interviews next week.

Daniels played at Fullerton from 1974-76 under Bobby Dye, graduated in 1977 and was an assistant in the mid-1980s under George McQuarn. He moved to Utah six years ago.

Daniels, 40, has worked primarily with the Utes’ inside players and has played a key role in recruiting for Coach Rick Majerus.

He started his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Los Angeles Verbum Dei High, and also was coach at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington. His Harbor teams were 33-29 in two seasons and advanced to the State community college playoffs both years.

“I’m excited that they’re interested in me for the job,” Daniels said. “I think it’s a doable situation there.”

Schermerhorn’s last three teams reached the State tournament, winning 90 games and losing 21.

His star player two years ago was Raimonds Miglinieks, an All-Big West point guard last season at UC Irvine.

Schermerhorn, 51, was an assistant at UC Irvine from 1980-84 and head coach at Southern Utah for four years. He moved to Arizona State as an assistant for two years, and was the interim coach there for 10 games.

Schermerhorn started his coaching career in Orange County at Santa Ana Valley and Canyon high schools.

“I’m looking forward to talking with them and getting an idea where they would like to see their program go,” said Schermerhorn, who is scheduled to be interviewed Monday. “I feel confident I could help their program.”

Hawking, 45, was the Titans’ interim coach this season after Brad Holland moved to the University of San Diego 21 days before the start of workouts. Fullerton finished 7-20, 5-13 in the Big West. Hawking, however, was widely praised by Big West coaches for his effort in his first year as a Division I head coach.

Hawking was a high school coach for 14 years at Simi Valley and his 1988 team, with former UCLA star Don MacLean, won a Southern Section championship. Hawking was an assistant at Pepperdine and UC Davis before moving to Fullerton as Holland’s top assistant three years ago.