Temple, William & Mary Have Their Eyes on the 49ers’ O’Brien

Long Beach Athletic Director Dave O’Brien, expected to be offered a similar position this week at the College of William & Mary, has emerged as a leading candidate for a similar vacancy at Temple, sources said Saturday night.

Temple officials were unavailable for comment.

O’Brien will have a second round of interviews with Temple officials beginning Monday in Philadelphia. O’Brien was named athletic director at Long Beach in 1991.

Sources said O’Brien, 39, met privately with Temple President Peter J. Liacouras and others Wednesday and Thursday. He also spent several days last week in interviews with William & Mary officials in Williamsburg, Va.

William & Mary has aggressively pursued O’Brien, whom Long Beach President Robert Maxson credits with much of the athletic department’s recent success. Maxson has told confidants he would attempt to upgrade O’Brien’s contract if William & Mary makes an offer.

However, budgetary constraints probably would prevent Long Beach from matching an offer from Temple. Bill Shumard and Bill Husak are expected to be among Maxson’s leading candidates to fill the job if O’Brien leaves.

Shumard, former Cal State Fullerton athletic director, is the assistant vice president for university relations and development. Husak is associate athletic director.