The associate men's basketball coach responsible for recruiting some of UAA's top players is interviewing today for the head coaching job at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas.
Shane Rinner, a six-year member of the UAA coaching staff, is one of two men being interviewed for the job. A spokesman for the Texas school said a decision may be announced as early as Friday.
"It's attractive and intriguing, but I'm not out there just trying to find a job or feeling like I've got to leave and be a head coach," said Rinner, 39. "I'm built a little different than some people. I don't have to be a head coach. I have to be in a good situation."
At UAA, Rinner has been an ace recruiter who helped land some of the team's best players, including All-Americans Carl Arts of Valdez and Luke Cooper of Australia, who two seasons ago took the Seawolves to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
Texas A&M International is beginning its second year as a full-fledged Division II member after moving up from the NAIA. It plays in the Heartland Conference.
"They haven't had a lot of success in six or seven years," Rinner said. "There's a lot of work to be done, but a lot of room for improvement."
Rinner has coached at just about every level of college basketball -- Division I, Division II, NAIA and junior college -- and even spent a season coaching a pro team in Denmark. His knack for finding and signing talented players has been a hallmark of his career.
As the recruiting coordinator for the UAA men's team, he spent this spring and early summer helping the Seawolves restock with the signing of five new players. "We really needed to get deeper, and we did that," he said.
Rinner grew up in Anchorage and was a basketball star at Anchorage Christian. In his six seasons with the Seawolves, they've reached the playoffs four times.
Find Beth Bragg online at adn.com/contact/bbragg or call 257-4309.
By BETH BRAGG
bbragg@adn.com