Men's Basketball Coach Search Committee Named at Fresno State

The national search for a men’s basketball coach is now under way at California State University, Fresno with the naming of an eight-member committee, Dr. Paul M. Oliaro, interim director of athletics, announced today.

He appointed Cynthia Teniente-Matson, vice president of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer at Fresno State, to chair the committee that will search for a coach to replace Ray Lopes, who resigned March 17. The search committee met for the first time today.

Oliaro, who is Fresno State’s vice president for student affairs and dean of students but serving as interim AD until a permanent director of athletics is appointed, said he hopes to have the search and final decision complete before the end of April.

“It is important to move this process forward as quickly as possible,” Oliaro said. “But it is also important to conduct a thorough process that allows us to hire the best individual available to us.”

A formal job announcement will be posted by the university’s Human Resources Department on its Web site today (March 22) as well as Web sites for the NCAA News, Black Coaches Association, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Higher Ed Jobs, Office of Employment Development Department, America’s Job Bank and the CSU Job Board.

The announcement will indicate that the filing deadline for full consideration is April 8 although the position will remain open until filled. Oliaro said the review of applications will begin immediately.

He also stressed that the search process, including information regarding applicants, will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Applications should be sent to Eastman and Beaudine, Inc., an executive search firm in Plano, Texas. After initial screening, the firm will forward qualified applicants to the search committee to select candidates for interviews. The firm is also assisting in the university’s search for a director of athletics that is now under way.

In addition to Matson, the other committee members are: John Kriebs, Desiree Reed Francois, Pat Hill, Eric Sanders, John Wallace, Dr. Michael Botwin and Rebecca Malmo. (See full list and affiliations attached).