The nationwide search for a new coach includes State College.

After spending seven seasons as an assistant coach under Jerry Dunn, Christian Appleman is interested in the Penn State men's basketball coaching opening that was vacated by Dunn's resignation on Monday.

Appleman said that he has spoken with Athletic Director Tim Curley and is currently a candidate.

"I would love to have the position," Appleman said. "It's something I saw myself doing since my playing days in the late '80s. Sometimes the timing isn't right, and I am very loyal to coach Dunn, but this could be the only opportunity in my career."

Appleman said the university needs to hire the best available candidate for the job.

"I have played here, and few people know more than I do [about the program]," Appleman said. "I know the building block and I can get it back to where it needs to be."

On Monday night, Curley had nothing but praise for the three assistant coaches.

"We have three outstanding assistant coaches, who I think highly of," Curley said. "They will continue to work until a replacement is found."

Curley added that the assistant coaches would add more depth to the field and would be considered for the position.

Appleman said that his aspirations have not always been to coach but that he would rather see a successful Penn State basketball team.

"It was never set in my mind," he said. "My goal has been to allow the program to succeed to its fullest potential."

He has been an assistant on both trips to the NCAA Tournament, including the trip to the Sweet 16 in 2001. He has coached on the two teams that advanced to NIT semifinals. He said that with the success of the program in those years, there were other coaching opportunities, but his heart remained in State College.

After his playing days Appleman left for two seasons and became an assistant women's basketball coach with Army. He returned to the Lions after that and served as tennis coach before joining the basketball staff in 1994.

In 1985, Appleman was a walk-on under Penn State men's basketball coach Bruce Parkhill, and he was the captain on the 1989 squad. The 1989 team advanced to the NIT for the first time since the 1965-1966 team. In addition to playing basketball, Appleman played tennis. He has been a part of the program for a long time and seen development of he program.

"That Atlantic 10 team was building the foundation of the program," he said. "As a Penn State player, I was proud of what we accomplished and to be associated with the team."

Now Appleman will attempt to rebuild the foundation, if he is named the 11th coach in Penn State history.