Hofstra still is very much in the early stages of its coaching search. But there are names starting to float out there, one that might be a surprise.
Though it’s quite unlikely Hofstra would travel down this slippery of a slope, The Post has learned that former Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez — through back channels, according to a source — has expressed an interest in the position vacated this week by Tom Pecora.
Seton Hall fired Gonzalez earlier this month after four mostly troublesome seasons in South Orange. He finished 63-56 and took the Pirates to one postseason appearance — this year’s NIT.
Gonzalez certainly knows the area, what with 11 years of head coaching experience at both Seton Hall and Manhattan College. He is 192-133 for his career and has been to two NCAA Tournaments, both with the Jaspers.
But, in light of the way things ended at Seton Hall — the arrest and dismissal of forward Robert Mitchell, the ejection of center Herb Pope in the first half of the 87-69 NIT loss to Texas Tech for a punch below the belt — it is highly doubtful Hofstra would reciprocate the interest.
Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes, this weekend, will compile an official short list, and next week, will begin a series of discussions with university president Stuart Rabinowitz.
It is possible, in the end, that Tom Moore and Dave Leitao make that list. Moore, the coach at Quinnipiac, who just led the Bobcats to an NEC regular-season title and an NIT berth, and Leitao, the former coach at Virginia, both were longtime assistants at UConn, where Hayes worked previously.
The Pride easily could compete for a Colonial Athletic Association title next season. With a roster that included six freshmen, Hofstra went 19-15 this season, and Charles Jenkins, a junior guard, won the league’s Player of the Year award.