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Athletic director Jim Livengood likely will forgo using a campus committee to select the Arizona Wildcats' next men's basketball coach, he said.

Citing a need for stealth and acknowledging the impact on his own career, Livengood said he will likely make the decision in conjunction with UA president Robert Shelton.

"This has to be a person that the president is comfortable with and believes is the next person to lead our program," Livengood said. "Bottom line, the search has probably a bigger impact or effect on me than anyone.

"If it doesn't work, I'm in big-time trouble."

Livengood said he will "absolutely" confer with others to find the full-time replacement for the retired Lute Olson — but knows the best way to keep the candidates secret is to tell as few people as possible.

"The confidentiality of the search is absolutely paramount," he said.

The UA will hire an outside consultant with "a great basketball background," he said, rather than a larger search firm. The consultant will conduct background checks, gauge interest and help make clandestine contact with interested coaches who figure to be employed.

Livengood said he and Shelton have discussed the cost of a new coach, calling it a "moving target." With respect to the current financial environment, Livengood said the UA will not cut any corners because of basketball's clout on the department's balance sheet.

"Fiscally," he said, "this has a huge impact on the rest of our programs."

Livengood said there is no favorite for the job — "No person that myself or Robert Shelton has said, 'This is who we want' " — but instead gave clues for his preference.

A candidate "really needs to be a person who is a head coach," Livengood said. It "would be tougher" to hire a coach, no matter how renown, who has struggled in recent years, he said.

"When we get down into the middle of the season and the end of the season," he said, "we would very clearly know the people who would be good fits."

Forgoing a campus committee is not unusual for major hires.

The University of Washington, which is looking to replace football coach Tyrone Willingham, this week named a 13-person "advisory committee" consisting of faculty, staff, coaches, students and community members.

The committee won't select the new coach, however. Athletic director Scott Woodward and president Mark Emmert will.

Woodward told the Seattle Times the committee would "give us the qualities and characteristics they want the next coach to have."

Every day, Livengood said, he makes inroads toward finding a coach — even if it is simply raising money for the hire.

It might be complicated to engage boosters while still being discreet about the target, but UA booster George Kalil doesn't seem too concerned.

The bottling-company giant said the UA is in a better position financially to lure a coach than it was when Olson was hired in 1983. Kalil guessed the UA would pay a salary ranking in the top 15 nationally.

"I believe that the university will be able to attract through the standard funding — and mainly they'll be able to attract through donors — enough money to hire the best coach available at a top price," he said. "But not ridiculous."

Livengood said his boosters understand the need for secrecy.

"There can't be a lot of transparency with this," he said. "Because it is so public out there, and because in all likelihood most of the coaches we would look at are currently in good jobs at good schools."

The Wildcats must also ensure they "win the press conference" with whomever they hire, Livengood said.

"If there's a perception there that the coach that's selected, if that person is perceived not to be the first choice, that's a major issue," he said.

UA interim head coach Russ Pennell — who took over for Olson on Oct. 24 — said Friday his UA career will likely end when the new coach is hired.

"I'm not going to be here in March or April, so I don't have to worry about March or April," he said, adding that he meant no disrespect to the UA. "I may be here to finish some stuff up, but you know what I'm saying.

"They're going have another coach. I get that. So there's really no pressure; I'm not trying out for anything."

Pennell sounded doubtful he would be hired as an assistant by the next coach — and didn't know where Livengood was looking.

"I don't have a clue what road they'll go down," he said, "and they're not going to consult me."

The UA players, swingman Chase Budinger said, are "kinda clueless — like everybody else" regarding the next hire and the process.

The Wildcats don't need help advertising the opening. Since Olson's retirement, Livengood said he has received interest from more coaches "than you would probably believe."

The key now will be reciprocating without anyone else knowing.

"I know it sounds like a facetious remark," Livengood said, "but this job only opens up once every quarter-century."

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