CS Fullerton’s Holland Takes Job at San Diego : College basketball: Coach will replace Egan after posting 23-31 record in two seasons with Titans.

Brad Holland, whose two-season basketball coaching tenure at Cal State Fullerton went from high hopes to growing uncertainty, has resigned to become the coach at the University of San Diego.

John Easterbrook, the new Fullerton athletic director, was in his office briefly Monday and learned of Holland’s resignation on the eve of his first official day on the job.

He was not immediately available for comment, and an athletic department spokesman said he would have no reaction until he has had time to study the situation.

Preseason practice is scheduled to begin Oct. 15. Bob Hawking, one of Holland’s assistants and a former coach at Simi Valley High and assistant at Pepperdine, is a possible choice as an interim coach.

Holland, previously an assistant at his alma mater under UCLA Coach Jim Harrick for four years, replaces Hank Egan. Egan resigned Aug. 31 to become an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.

Holland told his Fullerton players of his decision Monday morning.

“They were startled and caught off guard,” Holland said. “I told them that I understand that the timing is difficult. I think a lot of them felt disappointed.”

San Diego plays in the West Coast Conference.

“I’ve always admired the West Coast Conference,” Holland said at a San Diego news conference. “It has both quality coaches and quality student-athletes.”

Holland’s contract at Fullerton was through the 1995-96 season.

He signed a three-year contract with a one-year rollover clause. That contract was extended for one year under that clause after his first season. The Titans finished 15-12, which was Fullerton’s first winning record in four years.

The Titans also had a 10-8 record in the Big West Conference, finishing fifth, and along the way defeated every team in the conference except New Mexico State. The Titans ended the regular season with a one-point victory over Nevada Las Vegas. After that season, Nevada sought permission to talk to Holland about its coaching vacancy, which eventually went to Pat Foster.

The next season, however, turned sour before it began. Starting guard Don Leary was ruled academically ineligible and two other players, guard Chris Dade and forward DeVaughn Wright, were sidelined because of injuries before the first game. Then Todd Satalowich played two minutes in the opener and was sidelined for the rest of the season because of recurring back problems.

The Titans fell to 8-19, the worst record at the school since the 1980-81 team went 4-23.

Times correspondent Dave Distel contributed to this story.