Arizona Considers Bonvicini for Women’s Basketball Coach

Joan Bonvicini, coach of the Cal State Long Beach women’s basketball team since 1979, is one of several candidates for the vacant position at the University of Arizona.

Bonvicini reportedly was interviewed for the job Wednesday but could not be reached for comment. She was expected back in Long Beach Wednesday night, and a source close to the team said that if Bonvicini were made an offer, she would probably take a few days before making a decision.

Arizona officials refused to say whether an offer was made and added that there was “a long list” of candidates to be interviewed.

Bonvicini guided the 49ers to 10 conference titles in the past 12 seasons and has won the Big West Conference championship five of the past six years. The 49ers finished 24-8 this season, losing to Georgia, 87-77, in the West Regional semifinals.

The Wildcats were coached for the past four years by June Olkowski, who resigned after the team finished the 1990-91 season 6-25 overall and 1-17 in the Pacific 10 Conference. Olkowski was 34-82 at Arizona.

Bonvicini is in the second year of a three-year year contract with Long Beach and makes about $70,000 a year.

“She’s at the top of what’s allowable,” Dan Radakovich, a Long Beach assistant athletic director in charge of administration and finance, said in reference to salary caps imposed within the state system of schools. “(We’ll) get together with Joan after she gets back. She might not like the place.”

Radakovich added: “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that they (Arizona) have a few more resources than we do.”