Nevada coach Chris Ault’s job in jeopardy unless improvement is made

Nevada football coach Chris Ault will be at risk of losing his job if the 2010 season is not an improvement on 2009, multiple sources have told the Reno Gazette-Journal in the past two weeks. According to the sources, Athletics Director Cary Groth told the 63-year-old Ault in the days following the 45-10 Hawaii Bowl loss to SMU that he must contend for a Western Athletic Conference championship and not have an embarrassing performance in a bowl game or his 26th season could be his last. The sources, including major donors and university employees who work in or with the athletic department, requested anonymity. “There’s a firestorm up there right now,” one donor said. – Nevada Gazette-Journal

Kansas contract makes Turner Gill the fifth-richest football coach in Big 12

The University of Kansas athletic department on Wednesday made public new football coach Turner Gill’s contract, and the school determined that Gill’s five-year, $10 million deal makes him the fifth-richest coach in the Big 12 Conference. Gill, hired in December to replace the resigned Mark Mangino, will earn an annual base salary of $229,900 in addition to an annual media payment of $1,770,100. If Gill coaches all five years of his contract, he will receive a retention payment of $500,000. If he is terminated without cause, he will receive $100,000 for each year that he coached. Gill is eligible for incentive payments that could total as much as $400,000 in any one year: Big 12 regular-season championship ($25,000), bowl game participation (one month’s salary), BCS bowl game participation ($50,000), national coach of the year ($100,000) and KU winning the BCS title ($200,000). “Turner Gill is a winner,” KU athletic director Lew Perkins said. “He is an excellent coach and a terrific person. With Turner and the outstanding staff he has assembled, Kansas fans can look forward to many exciting Saturdays at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium.” – Kansas City Star

USC DC Rocky Seto not retained by Lane Kiffin

Rocky Seto, who was USC’s defensive coordinator last season and a member of the coaching staff since 1999, was informed Tuesday by new Coach Lane Kiffin that he would not be part of the staff. Seto, a former walk-on linebacker for the Trojans, played under John Robinson and coached with Paul Hackett and Pete Carroll. Seto said he was not angry and wished Kiffin and the Trojans well. – Los Angeles Times

Georgia Tech losing top recruiter

The timing left a little to be desired, but otherwise it appears the sudden departure of Giff Smith is not going to undo any of Georgia Tech’s good recruiting work. Smith, the Yellow Jackets’ defensive line coach and well-respected recruiting coordinator, resigned Tuesday in order to accept a position as outside linebackers coach for Chan Gailey’s Buffalo Bills. Smith was actually in Buffalo, N.Y., late Tuesday afternoon as he called the many Tech recruits and players with whom he had a relationship. – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Former Tulsa football coach to Ole Miss?

Former University of Tulsa football coach David Rader could be headed for a fourth tour of duty in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi football coach Houston Nutt has targeted Rader to be the Rebels’ new co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, according to a source familiar with the situation. Rader would replace Kent Austin, a former Ole Miss offensive coordinator who was recently named Cornell’s head coach. – Tulsa World

Vikings QB coach Kevin Rogers OC candidate at Virginia

One day after finishing a season where he helped the Minnesota Vikings get to the NFC championship game, while acting as overseer for future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, Kevin Rogers hadn’t had much time to consider his future. He certainly hasn’t thought much about Virginia’s vacant offensive-coordinator position — mainly because U.Va. hasn’t contacted him about the job. Rogers, 58, is content to take his time after wrapping up his fourth season as Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach. “I haven’t heard anything from U.Va.,” Rogers said Monday afternoon. Still, the question remains — if U.Va. coach Mike London, a Bethel High graduate, reached out to Rogers, would he listen? “I don’t know,” said Rogers, who has also been a speculative candidate for Syracuse’s vacant offensive-coordinator job, but he added he hasn’t heard anything from Orange coach Doug Marrone either. “It’s all hypothetical.” – Daily Press

Longhorns say no thanks to Thursday game against Nebraska

Texas-Nebraska next October on ESPN Thursday, live from Memorial Stadium? Almost. Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne said on Monday that ESPN wanted to move the Oct. 16 game to Thursday night, Oct. 14. NU had agreed. But Osborne said it didn’t come together because Texas refused, because of what Osborne said were concerns about “missing class time.” Oh, that Mack Brown, always looking out for the best interests of his students; I’m sure they would rather be in study hall than having to deal with 85,000 Husker fans under the lights. NU still might get a Thursday night appearance. Osborne said ESPN might try to move NU’s Oct. 2 Big 12 opener at Kansas State to Thursday. – World-Herald

Minnesota likely to extend Tim Brewster

Look for Minnesota football coach Tim Brewster’s contract extension to be for at least two years. More than 90 percent of the Gophers’ seniors graduated last year, and that counts for something. – St. Paul Pioneer Press

Is Mike Leach a fit at Arizona?

Arizona coach Mike Stoops could attempt to hire Mike Leach and give him autonomy. It would be a transaction that would set the Pac-10 on its ear. But Leach is tainted, he’s not exactly Mr. Chemistry, and Stoops has been reluctant to give freedom to his offensive coordinators. – Arizona Daily Star

Joe Barry a candidate for Tennessee DC job

Buccaneers linebackers coach Joe Barry is a candidate to become the Tennessee Volunteers’ new defensive coordinator, according to several published reports. The Volunteers are looking to replace Monte Kiffin, who left Tennessee with his son Lane to work for USC a few weeks ago. New Volunteeers head coach Derek Dooley has reportedly contacted Barry about the opportunity. “I really didn’t know coach Dooley from the Man in the Moon until he called,” Barry told the St. Petersburg Times. “But he said he really liked what Monte did on defense there at Tennessee and wanted to continue it. He said through all his research, my name was the one that kept coming up.” Barry re-joined the Bucs last year after a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. He originally joined the Bucs in 2001. Even if he’s officially offered the job, there’s a chance the Buccaneers would not allow Barry to leave for Tennessee since he still is under contract with the team. – Pewter Report

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