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Oregon announcement could help UW coaching search
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The Oregon Ducks had the non event of the year yesterday with the announcement that when Mike Bellotti eventually steps down offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will take over the reigns of the program. That isn't expected to happen until the completion of a new arena for Oregon basketball so we are talking at the soonest two to three years. Bellotti will have the option of becoming the Oregon AD when he decides he has had enough of coaching.
Naming top assistants to head coaching jobs years in the future seems to be a trend this year. Texas did the same thing with defensive coordinator Will Mushamp who stick around in Austin five to six years until Mack Brown retires. It is good way of protecting assistants but not really a great way to name a head coach since the game changes so much on an annual basis.
What this does do is open the door for Boise State's Chris Petersen to interview at Washington if he wants a shot at running a Pac 10 program. Petersen reportedly had his eyes on the Oregon job but now that it is a foregone conclusion I could see him interviewing at Washington this week. This could also spark the interest of California head coach Jeff Tedford who also would have been a serious candidate at Oregon.
The latest on Petersen is that contract extension talks have stalled in Boise. I can't imagine they would have stalled unless he wanted to keep his options open for a week or two. Tedford hasn't been contacted yet but the Huskies head to Berkeley this weekend to play the Bears. I suppose if Scott Woodward wanted to talk to Tedford at a neutral site in California after the game it could happen.
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach and his wife visited Seattle for a couple of days to interview for the position. Leach reportedly wasn't offered the job and there has been no comment from the Leach camp on how the interview went.
Reading between the lines on this one it means two things.
1. Mike Leach wants the Washington job or he wouldn't have taken the time to spend two days interviewing for it. He wanted to be a candidate last time the job was open so the interest is certainly there.
2. Jim Mora is still in play but has not agreed to anything as of yet. If Washington had Mora in the bag they wouldn't be interviewing Leach, Hill, or other potential candidates. If Mora wasn't coming they would have most likely made an offer to another coach by now.
From what I have heard Mora originally had a deadline of last Sunday to make a decision and now it has been extended to today. Reportedly he has an offer on the table. Now depending on who you believe the Huskies are trying to not hack off one of the richest men in the world and one of their biggest donors Paul Allen. They won't hire Mora unless Paul Allen gives his approval. Same thing goes with Mora who does not want to offend Paul Allen either.
The other thing we are hearing from a good source is the official line. The official line is Mora is not interested and has told Woodward no and that is why they are continuing to interview potential candidates. Hard to know what is exactly going on in this mating dance because both sides have been very quiet.
Steve Sarkesian who is the offensive coordinator at USC could also be slated for an interview. Sarkesian has turned down jobs such as the Oakland Raider head coaching job in the past but would jump at the opportunity if UW offers. I would consider him a peripheral candidate. UW's goal is to hire an established head coach.
No matter who the new coach I am hearing there will be an announcement between today and next Monday. Don't expect this to drag on all December like the last coaching search directed by former UW AD Todd Turner did. Scott Woodward wants to get this done quickly so the new staff can assembled, certified by the NCAA, and most importantly out on the road to recruit during the open period in December which started this week and will end when the holidays start.
Seahawks Examiner takes a look at Mora
