According to an article in today's Bangor Daily News entitled "UM uncertainty motivates Cronin" by Larry Mahoney, UMaine interim coach Greg Cronin is planning to interview for the vacant University of Alaska-Anchorage head ice hockey coaching position. There had been some doubt to whether or not Cronin would even interview for the position at UAA. According to Mahoney, the interviews will be held after Wednesday, and that a decision will be made by UAA Athletic Director Tim Dillon sometime in the middle of next month. Because of UAA's time table, Cronin will need to make his decision without knowing what the NCAA will decide about Maine. The NCAA is slated to review Maine's case in their June 1-3 meetings. Mahoney quotes Cronin as saying he has three concerns about going to UAA. First that Cronin has a $30,000 buyout on his contract at Maine, second his wife and lastly how committed UAA is to turning their program into an elite one. Mahoney says that Dillon assured Cronin that the buyout would not be a problem, and that UAA is very committed to making their program elite. Dillon also encouraged Cronin to bring his wife to UAA when he visits. "It was very refreshing to talk to someone who eas enthusiastic about the hockey program and the support for it, someone who realizes how important it is to the state of Alaska," Mahoney quoted Cronin as saying. --- Deron Treadwell - [log in to unmask] Orono, Maine HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.