Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 28, 1993                   TAG: 9303280090
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX                                LENGTH: Medium

GEORGE MASON CONFIRMS TALKS WITH EX-LAKERS COACH WESTHEAD

"I have a leading candidate, but no one has been eliminated from the list of people I'm considering," athletic director Jack Kvancz said. "Nothing has been decided, so all of our options are still open. That's all I can say right now."

Westhead is one of a half-dozen candidates to visit the suburban Washington campus and meet with Kvancz since late last week.

Other candidates include former VMI coach Marty Fletcher of Southwest Louisiana, Jack Bruen of Colgate and Jack Armstrong of Niagara.

All except Westhead currently are head coaches. Kvancz has stressed that his goal is to hire someone with a successful background as a Division I coach.

Kvancz said he hoped to hire a coach soon, but an announcement might not come until after the NCAA Tournament.

The job has been vacant since Ernie Nestor resigned March 8 after five seasons.

Nestor came to George Mason with no experience as a college head coach. He had 12 years experience as an assistant at James Madison, Wake Forest and California. He won 20 games in each of his first two seasons and led the Patriots to the NCAA Tournament in 1989, but he won just 14 games his third season before compiling back-to-back 7-21 records.

Westhead led the Los Angeles Lakers to NBA championships in 1980 and 1982. He also built successful programs at LaSalle, taking the Explorers to the NCAA Tournament in 1975 and 1978, and at Loyola-Marymount, with three straight NCAA appearances, including the West Regional championship game in 1990.

Westhead, 54, most recently was the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. He was replaced by Dan Issel after last season.