A SON LIKES DAD'S NEW JOB.

Byline: VINCENT BONSIGNORE

MALIBU - Mike Westphal stood on a balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday looking very much like the typical Pepperdine University student. A baseball cap was pulled tightly over his wavy blonde hair, he was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and behind him the ocean water glistened under a bright Malibu sky.

The setting, the weather and the attire were the reasons Westphal decided to walk-on with the Waves basketball team last year. If you're going to get a college education and play a little ball, paradise is as good a place as any to accomplish your goals. Besides, Pepperdine is big-time but low-key, just the way Westphal likes it.

Of course, being the son of former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal means Mike can never stray too far from big time's city limits. It's even more pronounced playing the same sport at which his dad excelled. Someone is always putting two and two together and figuring out Paul Westphal is his father.

After 21 years of being Westphal's son, Mike got used to it. His dad did his thing and Mike did his. He played the best he could and if others wanted to draw comparisons, so be it. Mike just wanted to have fun.

On Tuesday, all that changed slightly and the smile Mike wore as his father was being introduced as Pepperdine's new basketball coach - Mike's new basketball coach - indicated he was aware things were going to be a little different from now on.

``I'm sure it's going to be awkward at times,'' said the younger Westphal, who will be a senior next year.

Not that he plans to take things too seriously.

``I'm here to have fun,'' he said, laughing. ``He's here to win.''

When Pepperdine athletic director John Watson was courting Paul Westphal to replace Jan van Breda Kolff last week, father and son had many discussions about what might happen if Westphal took the job.

The Waves made perfect sense for Westphal. He's a native of Torrance, played at Redondo Beach Aviation High (defunct) and USC and still lives in the Los Angeles area. In fact, Westphal's two daughters graduated from Pepperdine.

And after getting fired by the Seattle Supersonics earlier this year, Westphal was looking for the right situation to make his coaching return. When van Breda Kolff left for St. Bonaventure last Sunday, Pepperdine was looking more and more appealing. After 12 years as an NBA coach, making stops in Phoenix and Seattle, Westphal was excited about the chance to coach in college.

But there was the matter of his son.

``It's a huge concern,'' said Paul Westphal, who signed a five-year contract. ``Being a walk-on is a different status than if you were a recruited player. (But) he's a very mature young man and he reassured me whatever happens is all right with him. He said 'I know you'll be fair, dad,' and I said I wish I can promise you I will be fair.''

In other words, Westphal is aware that no matter what, Mike is still his son.

``I'm used to judging any other basketball player with my opinion and thinking it's pretty objective,'' Westphal said. ``But I can't possibly be objective about him.''

Westphal then went on to tell a story about the late Al McGuire, who coached his son at Marquette University.

``This player came up to McGuire who believed he was better than his son and said, 'Coach, I'm better than your son,' and Al said, 'I know it, but I love him,' '' Westphal said.

Westphal has other concerns. The Waves lose three impact players to graduation and could possibly lose star Brandon Armstrong to the NBA draft. In addition, Westphal must roll up his sleaves and start recruiting, which wasn't part of his NBA job description but is now a critical part of his future success. He also has to put a staff together, get familiar with his new players, with whom he met for the first time Tuesday, and master a giant NCAA rules book Watson plopped on his desk.

``This all happened so quickly,'' Westphal said.

It would help if Armstrong came back. The junior guard averaged a team-high 21 points per game last year and has until June 20 to pull his name from consideration from the draft and maintain his eligibility. After meeting with Westphal on Tuesday, Armstrong will follow through on plans to attend an NBA evaluation camp in Chicago and figure out where he fits into the draft.

``I have an open mind,'' Armstrong said. ``I'll see what happens, and if I come back to Pepperdine, I'm okay with that.''

Westphal said he will support Armstrong's decision no matter what. As for Michael Westphal, after getting over the initial shock of his dad being considered for the Waves job, he quickly came to one conclusion.

``I thought he'd be perfect and he'd do a great job,'' Westphal said.

Spoken like a proud son.

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Photo:

New Pepperdine coach Paul Westphal is all smiles as he answers questions Tuesday afternoon in Malibu.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer