Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

CCU: Robinson pulls out of A.D. field

CONWAY -- Les Robinson has removed himself from consideration to become Coastal Carolina's next athletic director.

Robinson, who has served as men's basketball coach and athletic director at N.C. State, The Citadel and East Tennessee State, said Monday that he would listen to what Coastal had to offer. He pitched the idea of serving as interim athletic director this week, but Coastal wants to make a permanent hire, he said.

"I would have loved to have done it on a six-month basis as interim AD and help them find somebody that is the perfect fit,"

Robinson said. "I could have looked the situation over and gotten to know everybody. ... Basically, I would have been a consultant. I did that at N.C. State successfully.

"That's what I felt best about, but they don't want to go that route."

Robinson said a number of people have contacted him expressing interest in the position, but he said he doesn't know any of the candidates. Coastal's search committee whittled a group of 120 to 12 last month, but the committee's chairman, Charlie Hodge, has said that a finalist might not be among them.

The committee interviewed 10 people, including Robinson and two internal candidates, and expects to choose the finalists within the next month, Hodge said.

"We were fortunate to interview 10 excellent candidates," Hodge said. "There is not any one who failed to impress us. We have a great situation where we're able to pick from the best of the best. Nobody is substandard. Everyone has tremendous assets."

He described the interviews as "very intense and thorough."

Robinson and Bill D'Andrea, Clemson's senior associate athletic director for external affairs, are the only candidates to publicly acknowledge speaking with Coastal about the opening. D'Andrea pulled out of the running last week.

The 14-member search committee is expected to make another round of cuts in the coming weeks. If the remaining pool is small enough, the committee will then turn to President David DeCenzo, who will hire the school's next athletic director from a final pool of five or less.

Athletic Director Warren Koegel will step aside when the new hire is made to move into athletic fundraising.

To view Hoke's Coastal Carolina blog ``The Roost,'' go to TheSunNews.com.