Bailiff’s job safe despite 1-9, but other C-USA coaches in trouble

The coaching carousel within Conference USA has begun. Memphis fired Tommy West. Mark Snyder might not be long for Marshall. At UTEP, athletic director Bob Stull told a television station that Mike Price would return in 2010. And after three seasons with a combined record of 9-25, Bob Toledo likely is hearing grumbling at Tulane. But the carousel won’t stop at Rice. Interim athletic director David Sayler said Wednesday that football coach David Bailiff, whose team won its first game of the season Saturday against Tulane, is safe despite a 1-9 record. “He’s the perfect guy for our program,” Sayler said. “There will be no change whatsoever. … There is no change in our philosophy.” Such talk wasn’t a surprise to Bailiff. “I’m fine. The most pressure I get I put on myself,” he said. “I don’t have any worries. They see we’re building a program, we’re young and injured, and we redshirted a lot of kids (18) this year to do it the right way.” Also, Sayler said he doesn’t anticipate a shake-up among Bailiff’s assistants. – Houston Chronicle