FENWICK: PEOPLE'S CHOICE : COACH MOVES WIDE-OPEN OFFENSE TO NORTHRIDGE.

Byline: Bill Schlotter Daily News Staff Writer

From the outset, he was the San Fernando Valley's choice to be the new Cal State Northridge head football coach.

On Friday morning, Jim Fenwick became the university's choice as well.

The Valley College head coach, who grew up in Northridge and attended Cleveland High School, got a call from the Matadors' athletic director Paul Bubb around 11:30 a.m. informing him that he had beaten out two other finalists for the job vacated by Dave Baldwin in December.

``It's truly a happy moment for me,'' said an emotional Fenwick, 44, who had the support of much of the local coaching fraternity. ``I've always wanted to be a Division I football coach. To be able to do it in my own backyard. . . .''

Fenwick, who compiled a record of 50-14 at Valley during his six years as head coach, also had the support of the man he replaces, Baldwin, who resigned last month to become head coach at San Jose State.

``He is what the Valley is all about,'' said Baldwin, who beat out Fenwick and others for the Northridge job in 1995. ``He is what Northridge is all about now.''

As far as Bubb and the Northridge selection committee are concerned, winning is what their school and Fenwick are about now.

Fenwick was picked, Bubb said, in the belief he can build on the Matadors' inaugural 7-4 season in the I-AA Big Sky Conference and take the team to national prominence.

``We want to consistently be at the top of the Big Sky Conference and poised to move on to postseason play,'' Bubb said.

``We think we have picked a real winner and a true champion.''

Bubb said Fenwick signed a three-year deal with the university and will be paid $72,000 per year, a $10,000 raise over what he was getting at Valley.

``I feel like I am the best fit,'' said Fenwick, selected over former Wake Forest defensive coordinator Chris Allen and University of Missouri assistant Skip Hall. ``I have the energy, I have the commitment.''

Fenwick, whose 10-1 1996 Valley team averaged more than 45 points per game, said the Matadors will continue to play a decidedly wide-open style of offense.

``We like to throw the pill around,'' he said. ``We like to get the ball into the hands of athletes in the open field and let them try to make something happen.''

That was good news for Matadors wide receiver Jerome Henry, who said he was disappointed when he heard Baldwin was leaving.

``I transferred here last year, fit in and found a home,'' said Henry, who started his college career at Iowa State. ``We won more games last year than I did in three years at Iowa State.''

But Henry was encouraged when he heard Fenwick was a top candidate to become the new coach. Teammates Aaron Flowers and Cameron Perry had played for Fenwick at Valley before moving on to Northridge. And they gave their old coach high marks.

``They thought he would be a good choice,'' Henry said. ``And if they thought he would be a good choice, then I felt he would be a good choice, too.''

Fenwick said he looked forward to being reunited with Flowers, the Matadors starting quarterback last season.

Flowers passed for 3,135 yards and 23 TDs in 1995 as Fenwick's starter at Valley.

And he said he hoped to recruit some of the members of his last Valley team to the Northridge campus for next season.

The Matadors will carry 45 scholarships next season. And Matadors offensive coordinator Jeff Kearin, who will be retained by Fenwick, said the team will have between 21 and 24 spots to fill for next season.

Also likely to come over from Valley will be Fenwick's wide receivers coach, Rob Phenicie, a key force behind the Monarchs' high-powered offense.

Fenwick will be getting a late start on recruiting. Nonetheless, he anticipates no problem getting the athletes he needs.

He expects to get many of them from the Valley area.

JIM FENWICK

Age: 44.

Residence: Northridge.

Family: Wife Gayle, sons Tyler (20) and Casey (13).

Education: Cleveland High School, Pierce College, Wichita State (BA), Cal Lutheran (MA).

Resume: Running backs coach, Pierce College, 1974-77; defensive coordinator, Pierce College, 1977-81; head coach, Pierce College, 1981-86; running backs coach, CS Northridge, 1986-87; offensive coordinator, Valley College, 1987-88; running backs coach, Miami (Ohio), 1988-90; running backs coach, University of the Pacific, 1990-91; head coach Valley College, 1991-1997.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: (color) JIM FENWICK

Box: JIM FENWICK (see text)