List of finalists for coaching job could go to chancellor next week

The search for UCLA’s next football coach may enter a new phase next week, as athletic department officials could present a list of finalists to Chancellor Gene Block by the end of the week, a source familiar with the search said.

UCLA officials added former Washington and Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel and Philadelphia Eagles assistant John Harbaugh to the interview list for this weekend, sources said. A meeting with Norm Chow, the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator, had already been arranged.

DeWayne Walker, the Bruins’ defensive coordinator and interim coach, was interviewed Tuesday.

Other candidates are expected to be interviewed, but the process of trimming the list and arranging meetings with the chancellor could begin early next week.

Neuheisel’s candidacy has been strongly pushed by some influential alumni and former players, though his past troubles had athletic department officials unsure whether to interview him. The NCAA put Colorado on two years’ probation, with some of the violations occurring when Neuheisel was coach. He was fired from Washington for his involvement in an NCAA basketball betting pool, though he later won a $4.5-million settlement from the school and the NCAA.

Harbaugh, the brother of Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh, is the secondary coach for the Eagles.

Quarterback Ben Olson, who will start against Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22, said he is looking forward to ending a difficult season on an upbeat note.

Olson missed one game because of a concussion and five more because of a knee injury -- the second straight year that his season was interrupted by injuries. He returned to the lineup after Patrick Cowan suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter against USC on Dec. 1. Cowan is unavailable for the bowl game.

“We want to go out on a high note as a team,” Olson said. “This has not been the year that we all envisioned, for me personally and for our team. To have a chance to go out and clean the slate for the off-season would be a big thing for us.”

Osaar Rasshan will be the backup, Walker said.

The Bruins are hosting 18 high school players on campus this weekend, part of a group that has already committed. Walker and other Bruins assistants are trying to hold together the 2008 recruiting class during the search for a new coach.

“All you can do is be honest with the kids and their families,” Walker said. “They all know what’s going on. This is a weekend for them to see the school and spend time with some of our players.”

Defensive tackle Jess Ward will have surgery on his left knee.

“We wanted to let him get it fixed so he could be ready for spring ball,” Walker said.

Tackle Brian Abraham did not practice and Walker said his injured ankle had not improved. Wide receiver Joe Cowan (hamstring) returned to practice.

Kick return specialist Matthew Slater was named second-team All-American and safety Chris Horton third team by CollegeFootballNews.com.

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chris.foster@latimes.com