Bakersfield Coach Is Critical of Hiring Process

The process to hire the new Long Beach State men’s basketball coach moved swiftly, culminating two weeks to the day after Seth Greenberg bolted for the University of South Florida’s cash.

Wayne Morgan, a longtime Syracuse assistant, was introduced as the program’s new leader amid rousing applause, emotional declarations of school unity and praise for the selection process Wednesday at the Pyramid. It was a storybook closing scene--one Long Beach officials crafted well.

But the story doesn’t end there. Many people involved said things aren’t as tidy as the spin indicates.

Two of the coaches interviewed for the position said the process was flawed and--at one point, anyway--stacked. And although the university community appears satisfied with Morgan’s selection, some influential boosters and alumni are concerned about the selection committee’s road to their recommendation.

Cal State Bakersfield Coach Pat Douglass is the staunchest critic. Douglass, among six finalists interviewed for the position, said he was under the impression the job was his. According to Douglass, Bill Shumard, 49er interim athletic director, assured Douglass that he “was his guy for the job.”

Douglass, winner of two Division II national titles at Bakersfield, said he came to Long Beach believing his interviews with the selection committee and players were merely formalities. Douglass said he coveted the job, but he would not have pursued it if he thought he was among a pool of candidates instead of the top choice.

“I wouldn’t have gotten involved unless it had been highly suggested to me [by Long Beach officials] that I apply,” Douglass said from his home in Bakersfield. “I don’t go job-seeking, so if I wasn’t the one they wanted they never should have involved me.

“I never would have gone down there. I made that perfectly clear to them upfront. They knew.”

Douglass was once a candidate for the Cal State Fullerton job when Shumard was the Titans’ athletic director. It was based on his dealings with Shumard then, and conversations he claims to have had with him recently, that Douglass formed his expectations about the 49ers’ job.

“I am upset about it,” said Douglass, winner of 80% of his games with the Roadrunners. “I really wanted the position, but I don’t have any animosity toward the program or most of the people at the school.

“I met a lot of great people, and they certainly have the right to hire [whom] they want. If I’m not the person, that’s fine. But I’m angry at myself because I trusted the integrity of one individual, and I’m angry at the lack of respect I was shown.”

Long Beach officials, expectedly, tell a distinctly different story.

While Shumard and Bill Husak, associate athletic director and chair of the six-member search committee, acknowledge that Douglass was an intriguing candidate from the outset, they steadfastly deny that the hiring of anyone was a “done deal.” They maintain that the search process, conducted more openly than most, was above reproach.

“I can understand why Coach Douglass is frustrated and disappointed at having not gotten the position,” Shumard said. “But at no point was he ever assured of anything other than being a strong and logical candidate for the position.”

Said Husak: “I don’t know why Pat would get that impression. I told everyone when we were setting up the interviews, ‘You need to come in and sell yourself. This is an open process, and good luck with the interview.’ ”

However, another coach familiar with the process, who asked not to be identified, said it was his understanding that “it was Douglass’ job from the beginning.”

But if so, what happened?

Well, several sources within the athletic department confirmed that Douglass was the leading choice--until Kansas assistant Matt Doherty came to town. Doherty, whose basketball blue blood is as good as it gets, left search committee members dreaming of hoops heights they long to reach.

It was Doherty’s job if he wanted it, but he didn’t. Douglass probably would have gotten the job except for two things: his interviews.

Players allowed to speak with Douglass on Tuesday left the encounter distraught, making their feelings resoundingly clear to Husak & Co. And Douglass didn’t wow ‘em during his meeting with the search committee, either, although Husak steadfastly maintains “no one interviewed poorly.”

Douglass disputes the evaluations of his interviews.

“Look, if they don’t want me, that’s one thing, but I was prepared,” Douglass said. “I presented exactly how I would handle the situation at Long Beach.

“I took it very seriously. But if they didn’t like what I said, I guess that’s their right.”

Morgan impressed players and the committee, knowing the right things to say--and saying them well. The players told Husak they could play for Morgan, an endorsement not given to Douglass.

Although Morgan probably can’t be called a compromise selection, he wasn’t the No. 1 guy going into those final, tense hours late Tuesday night. Still, the committee had its man, one the players liked too.

Sources said the vote was 5-0, with one abstention. It wasn’t 100%, but this is fine with 49er fans. They needed someone to start believing in again.

“I have some concerns about the process, but I think the outcome was good,” said Neil Bernstein, booster club president. “Now, we can move on.”

49er Notes

The men’s volleyball team (21-5), ranked second nationally, hosts Cal State Northridge (15-11) in the opening round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs at 7:30 Saturday night at the Pyramid. The winner of the playoffs earns the MPSF’s automatic berth into the volleyball Final Four. Senior middle blocker Tom Hoff, a consensus first-team All-American selection last season, was selected first-team all-MPSF for the second consecutive season, it was announced Thursday. Hoff leads the 49ers with an average of 5.66 kills per game.