LAVIN INQUIRES ABOUT OPENING AT PENN STATE.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

Former UCLA coach Steve Lavin has called Penn State officials to express interest in the school's coaching position.

``Clearly I'm interested. I'm intrigued,'' Lavin told the Harrisburg Patriot News.

Lavin, who was fired Monday, told the paper he was urged by a group of Penn State alums in Los Angeles to pursue the job.

He had been eyeing the job as early as December when, on the flight back from his team's loss at Kansas, he had a lengthy discussion about the job with UCLA guard Jon Crispin, a transfer from Penn State.

Lavin, who has not yet received a return call from athletic director Tim Curley, would be considered a long shot. The top candidates appear to be East Tennessee State coach Ed DeChellis, a longtime Penn State assistant, and Pennsylvania coach Fran Dunphy.