Charles B. Reed, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, was publicly named chancellor of the California State University system Monday by the CSU Board of Trustees.

This weekend, the board interviewed candidates for the chancellorship after a nationwide search that began in August. The private search, conducted by the executive search firm Korn/Ferry, followed an announcement by current Chancellor Barry Munitz that he would leave the CSU to head the J. Paul Getty Trust in January.

"We stole him, just like Getty stole Munitz," said Martha Fallgatter, chairwoman of the CSU Board of Trustees and head of the search committee.

Florida did not want to let Reed go, according to Fallgatter. "They matched our money, the Florida State Chief of Staff called him, everyone was trying to pressure him into staying," Fallgatter said.

Reed takes office on March 1, 1998 at a salary of $254,000. Munitz is scheduled to leave his position Jan. 5, 1998.

Fallgatter would not comment on how many candidates were interviewed for the position.

The Board of Trustees had announced a timeline in September predicting that interviews would be conducted in October and the selection would be made in November. Fallgatter said that the board did not come in ahead of schedule.

"We just knew we would have a selection made by November at the latest," Fallgatter said.

James R. Harding, Florida State University Student Regent, said he believes Reed will be a positive addition to the CSU system.

"[Reed] is a trusted counselor and a pro-student individual," Harding said. "It was a good move for him and a big loss for the Florida State University system."

Harding said he knew Reed was in talks with the CSU board on Thursday, but did not know of the final decision until Monday evening.

Fallgatter said the chemistry between Reed and the board was dynamic during the interview. "He is dynamite. [the students] are going to love him," Fallgatter said.

"I do not know him personally, but he has an outstanding reputation," Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson said. "It is my speculation that he has been the person that the board really wanted from the beginning."

Maxson said he was hoping for someone accustomed to a large system as is Reed. Maxson said he also likes the fact that Reed has been with the FSU system for more than 12 years.

"I like the security," Maxson said.

John Kennedy contributed to this article.