CAL STATE FULLERTON NOTEBOOK / LON EUBANKS : Former Titan Coach Sneed Doesn’t Miss College ‘Rat Race’

John Sneed, former Cal State Fullerton basketball coach, came back to Titan Gym Monday night as coach of the United Arab Emirates national team, a man with no regrets about being away from what he called the “rat race” of Division I college basketball.

“It’s been great, therapeutic,” said Sneed, who was ousted as Fullerton coach after a 12-16 season in 1992. He had taken over in 1988 for George McQuarn.

“I’m starting my fourth season of coaching over there, and I want to continue doing it as long as they’ll have me. I turned down a chance to coach a European pro team, and I’ve had some other possibilities in other places. But I really like this job.”

Sneed said he likes being able to do the things he enjoys most. That’s the actual on-the-floor coaching and developing players. “I don’t have to worry about fund-raising, recruiting, keeping players eligible, the stuff like that,” Sneed said.

Sneed said he and his family have enjoyed living in Dubai, a coastal city located in one of the seven states that make up the United Arab Emirates.

“It’s beautiful there,” Sneed said. “Great beaches, golf courses, restaurants and entertainment. My wife teaches at one of the Emirates schools now, and my 8-year-old daughter really loves it there.

“And what’s really nice is they have the lowest crime rate in the world there. After being there for a while, you gain a real respect for the Islamic lifestyle. They have a lot of respect for one another, and the generosity they show is outstanding. It’s very easy to get spoiled.”

Sneed said the drawback to coaching there is that basketball is still a fairly new sport in the country. “They’ve been playing the game only about 15 or 16 years on the national level, and compared to other countries that have been playing the game longer, you don’t have as many potential international-level players.”

Sneed said his team competed in the Asian Championships recently, winning the consolation title, but it missed qualifying for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Only the top two teams in that tournament qualify for the Olympics.

Sneed said his team normally plays in the Gulf Coast tournament at this time of the year, but the event was canceled this season. Sneed put together a five-game exhibition trip against California college teams. Naturally, he picked Fullerton as one of the stops, but the Titans spoiled his homecoming with a 90-80 victory.

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Transfer John Williams scored 28 points in 28 minutes in Monday’s exhibition game, leaving no doubt how important the recent NCAA ruling on his eligibility was to the Titans.

“John is definitely going to be a force inside,” Coach Bob Hawking said.

Williams showed good speed on the fast break for a 6-foot-5 power forward. “John’s very athletic,” Hawking said. “You put him in a 50-yard dash with our other guys and he’d beat a lot of them, even with his size.”

Williams was cleared to play this season, when the NCAA confirmed that he had met the necessary transfer requirements even though he spent a brief time at Utah State in the fall of 1994. Williams signed a letter of intent with Utah State, but it was voided because of hardship reasons.

Guard Chris St. Clair, making a comeback after a knee injury late last season, continued to give the Titans a lift as a reserve. He scored 20 points, making five of eight shots from the floor and nine of 10 free throws.

“He makes things happen offensively and defensively when he goes in,” Hawking said. “We’ve come to expect it from him. He’s a spirited player.”

Center Dirk Rassloff played only six minutes after being hit hard in the forehead with an elbow going for a rebound, but Hawking said he should be all right.

The Titans open the regular season Tuesday night at UCLA.

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Three Titan winners of the Golden Spikes award were at the baseball awards dinner Friday night at the Four Seasons in Newport Beach.

Tim Wallach, a free agent who played last season with the Dodgers, and Phil Nevin, now with the Detroit Tigers, joined current winner Mark Kotsay. Another former Titan, Jose Mota, who is with Kansas City, also attended.

Kotsay said he wants to continue as a relief pitcher in addition to his regular duty in the outfield.

Kotsay said he discussed continuing to pitch with Todd Helton when they were in New York last week for the Golden Spikes awards luncheon. Helton pitched as well as played at first base last year for the Tennessee team that reached the College World Series.

“Todd thought it was good for him,” said Kotsay. “He also believes it helped his value when it came time for the draft.”

Helton was Kotsay’s chief competition in last season’s player of the year competition.

Kotsay is in contention for one more prestigious award in 1995. He was nominated by Team USA officials as amateur baseball’s candidate for Olympic athlete of the year.

Titan Notes

Titan basketball games won’t be broadcast on any radio station this season. KMNY, which carried Titan games last season, switched to UC Irvine this year. “We will carry audio broadcasts of road games on the Titan TV Channel, which is available on several local cable companies,” sports information director Mel Franks said. Two Titan games are scheduled to be televised. Prime Sports will carry the season-opener with UCLA next Tuesday and the game at San Diego State Dec. 5. . . . The Titan wrestling team lost its first dual meet of the season, 28-10, to Cal State Bakersfield Saturday. Darryl Christian is unbeaten in five matches in the 142-pound division this season. . . . The volleyball team finished its season with a 12-19 record, 5-15 in the Big West. It was Fullerton’s best season since 1988. Heather Bassett led the team with 4.23 kills average, sixth in the conference.