Cal lines up coaching candidates

Cal is moving quickly to fill its coaching vacancy after dismissing Ben Braun last Wednesday. The Bears, who have already been turned down by Jamie Dixon of Pitt, are said to be focusing in on both Tony Bennett of Washington State and Denver Nuggets’ assistant Mike Dunlop, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. We’re surprised Randy Bennett of St. Mary’s isn’t in that first group, but apparently officials at that WCC school are trying to do everything in their power to keep him. One name that initially popped up in relation to the Cal job was former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, but we can’t see him going across the Bay to coach at the Cardinal’s biggest rival. Montgomery, interestingly, has been mentioned at, of all places, Loyola Marymount, where his son played. Seems like a stretch, but who knows? We’re sure former UCLA coach Steve Lavin, who grew up in the Bay area and works as an analyst for ESPN, would love to be involved.  ... [link]