Ken Bone has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Tony Bennett at Washington State.

According to sources, Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk is considering Bone and is also interested in Utah State coach Stew Merrill.

Sources indicate that St. Mary's Randy Bennett and San Diego's Bill Grier have withdrawn from the process.

Bone, 50, has a 77-49 mark in four seasons at Portland State and has taken the Vikings to two straight NCAA appearances. Bone led the team to a 23-win campaign this past season for the second straight year.

He was also an assistant at Washington from 2000-05.

Morrill, 56, has been at Utah State since 1998 and led the Aggies to the NCAA tournament this past season after a 30-5 record.