Maryland Interviews USC’s Raveling, Will Pick New Coach in Next 2 Weeks

George Raveling, USC basketball coach, has been interviewed for the University of Maryland coaching job. The school is seeking a replacement for Bob Wade, who resigned last month.

The interview, first reported in the Washington Post, was confirmed elsewhere Friday. Raveling wouldn’t comment.

Raveling has two seasons remaining on a five-year contract he signed with USC in 1986. With the Trojans, Raveling has a 26-62 record, while finishing last in the Pacific 10 Conference three straight seasons. The Trojans were 10-22 in 1988-89.

Raveling was an assistant at Maryland for three years in the early 1970s under Coach Lefty Driesell, who was ousted in 1986 in the wake of the Len Bias situation. Bias, Maryland’s star and the top draft choice of the Boston Celtics that year, died of a cocaine overdose.

Raveling left Maryland in 1972 for Washington State, where he became the first black head coach in the Pac-10. After compiling a 167-136 record in 11 seasons, he moved to Iowa, where he had a 54-38 record in three season before coming to USC.

Gary Williams of Ohio State and Morgan Wooten of DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md., are considered the top candidates for the job. Others being considered are Jeff Mullins of North Carolina Charlotte, Ed Tapscott of American University and Bob Wenzel of Rutgers.

Maryland officials said they hope to name a new coach within two weeks.