The committee formed to find a new baseball coach for UA has narrowed its field, school officials said.

Senior associate athletic director Kathleen LaRose was quoted in the Tucson Citizen saying, "The forest is clearing. We're closing in, and I think we're moving along nicely, on schedule."

The committee is searching for a man to replace Jerry Kindall, who retired on May 20 after 24 years as head coach of the Wildcat program.

A decision is expected from the committee on July 1. And that's good news for Kindall's long-time assistant and candidate Jerry Stitt. Stitt has not been in contact with the committee and said the wait is starting to get to him.

"The holding pattern that we're in ... I don't know what to say," Stitt said. "It's really starting to wear on me."

Apparently, the only person who has spoken to the committee is Kindall himself. Stitt said that the former coach contacted the committee and athletic director Jim Livengood to give his support to Stitt.

Stitt is on a list of candidates that include former Pima Community College and current New Mexico coach Rich Alday, Cal State-Fullerton assistant George Horton, Jim Schwanke, an assistant with 1996 College World Series champion Louisiana State, and Tennessee coach Rod Delmonico.

Andy Lopez, the head coach at Florida, was rumored to be in the running for the Arizona post but has since withdrawn his name.

The committee hopes to have its decision as soon as possible because July 1 is the start of the new recruiting year. That is the first day coaches can contact players who will be high school seniors in the fall, Stitt said. Until a new coach is found, Arizona's recruiting is on hold.

"No matter who comes in," Stitt said. "We're going to be behind."