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Grier next for OSU hoops?
Sources are unconfirmed, but San Diego head coach Bill Grier appears to be heading to OSU
Kye Johnson
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Sports
The search for Oregon State's next men's basketball coach may be drawing to an end. University of San Diego head coach Bill Grier has suddenly emerged as the front-runner for the position and has openly discussed the idea of becoming Oregon State's next head coach.
Grier was an assistant coach at Gonzaga for nearly two decades before attaining the head job at San Diego last season.
In his first and only season as head coach at the division-one level, Grier led the Toreros to an upset victory over Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Grier then led his team to a first-round upset victory over No. 4 seed Connecticut 70-69 in overtime on March 21. San Diego was then bounced from the tournament in the next round by Western Kentucky.
Originally last night, the Oregonian website made headlines saying although unofficial and unconfirmed, Grier would be OSU's next head coach. The site later changed the story to Grier specifying Oregon State hadn't offered him the job just yet.
"I have met and talked to them," Grier said before the team's banquet last night according to one AP report. "There is a discussion and there's a feeling-out process going, I think, between both parties, and that's where it stands right now. That's really all the further it's gone, and I am still the basketball coach at the University of San Diego."
One AP story noted that Grier had in fact interviewed for the position, but had not been offered.
Grier was born and raised in Oregon, where he attended High School in Cottage Grove. His mother still lives in the state.
Grier is 44 years old and has a career, one-year total record of 22-14. Oregon State athletic department was unavailable for comment last night.
Kye Johnson, sports editor
sports@dailybarometer.com
Grier was an assistant coach at Gonzaga for nearly two decades before attaining the head job at San Diego last season.
In his first and only season as head coach at the division-one level, Grier led the Toreros to an upset victory over Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Grier then led his team to a first-round upset victory over No. 4 seed Connecticut 70-69 in overtime on March 21. San Diego was then bounced from the tournament in the next round by Western Kentucky.
Originally last night, the Oregonian website made headlines saying although unofficial and unconfirmed, Grier would be OSU's next head coach. The site later changed the story to Grier specifying Oregon State hadn't offered him the job just yet.
"I have met and talked to them," Grier said before the team's banquet last night according to one AP report. "There is a discussion and there's a feeling-out process going, I think, between both parties, and that's where it stands right now. That's really all the further it's gone, and I am still the basketball coach at the University of San Diego."
One AP story noted that Grier had in fact interviewed for the position, but had not been offered.
Grier was born and raised in Oregon, where he attended High School in Cottage Grove. His mother still lives in the state.
Grier is 44 years old and has a career, one-year total record of 22-14. Oregon State athletic department was unavailable for comment last night.
Kye Johnson, sports editor
sports@dailybarometer.com
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