Steve Kragthorpe resigns from Texas A&M

New Texas A&M wide receivers coach Steve Kragthorpe has resigned due to a family medical issue. Kragthorpe, a former offensive coordinator under R.C. Slocum, had held head coaching positions at Tulsa and Louisville. He was hired by coach Mike Sherman this off season. – Dallas Morning News

Steve Kragthorpe to Texas A&M?

Mike Sherman is interviewing for at least one linebackers coach — former A&M great Dat Nguyen is believed to be a candidate — and a receivers coach. Steve Kragthorpe, a former Aggies offensive coordinator and head coach at Tulsa and Louisville, reportedly is a prospect for the receivers job. – Austin American-Statesman

Charlie Strong to be named new Louisville football coach

University of Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich hopes to make Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong the Cardinals’ next head football coach Wednesday afternoon. Jurich said Tuesday night that he and his wife, Terrilynn, are flying to Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday morning to put the finishing touches on a contract with Strong. No news conference had been announced as of last night, but the personnel committee of the UofL Athletic Association board of directors, which approves such hires, scheduled a 3:30 p.m. Wednesday meeting. – Courier-Journal

Charlie Strong Leads Louisville Search

If Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong wants to become the next head football coach at the University of Louisville, it’s his job to lose, sources with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday. Strong is identified as the No.1 target to replace Steve Kragthorpe, who was fired after three seasons Saturday. Sources say UofL athletic director Tom Jurich plans to call Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley following Saturday’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game between the Gators and Alabama to request permission to interview Strong. A discussion could take place as early as Sunday. – Louisville Courier-Journal

Charlie Strong leads Louisville’s list

Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has emerged as the leading candidate for the Louisville head-coaching job, multiple sources have told ESPN.com. Cardinals athletic director Tom Jurich has had no contact yet with Strong, sources said. Jurich told his counterpart at Florida, Jeremy Foley, that he will not interfere with the Gators’ preparations for the SEC championship game Saturday against Alabama. However, shortly after that game is over, Jurich is expected to contact Strong, and an interview could take place as early as Sunday. Jurich is expected to spend time this week traveling to do research on other prospective candidates for the job, but Strong is the clear front-runner according to multiple sources. Others who have expressed interest in the Louisville job include Central Michigan coach Butch Jones and former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer. Sources said Fulmer had a telephone discussion with Jurich Tuesday to discuss the job, but he is not considered a prime candidate for the position. – ESPN.com

Charlie Strong, Jim McElwain Lead Louisville’s List

“I want somebody that’s got a lot of Steve’s characteristics, because I think if you talk to the team, to a man … they believe in this guy,” he said. Two of the names swirling in the air mean that Louisville fans might watch Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game with unusual zeal. One prospect will be running Florida’s defense; another will be running Alabama’s offense. Charlie Strong, 49, is defensive coordinator and associate head coach at undefeated, top-ranked Florida, which has won two national titles in the past three years. Jim McElwain, 47, is offensive coordinator at undefeated and second-ranked Alabama. McElwain was an assistant at Louisville for three seasons under John L. Smith. Either could bring a Southern connection to the job, with all that implies for recruiting… Other names on the most-often-heard list of coaching prospects: Kevin Sumlin, head coach of Houston and its high-powered offense, which is tops in the nation. Houston ended its regular season Saturday night against Rice. Butch Jones, head coach at Central Michigan. Jones’ three-year record is 26-13. His team plays for the Mid-American Conference championship Saturday. Tommy Tuberville, who was forced out at Auburn a year ago despite an 85-40 record at the school (110-60 overall). Turner Gill, head coach of the University at Buffalo. Gill’s season is over, so talking to him would not violate Jurich’s pledge not to “disrupt” a team still playing… Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, whose name had been churning in the UofL rumor mill, is apparently satisfied after contentious contract negotiations in Lubbock. (He earns about $2.8 million a year.) “I have no intentions but to stay here at Tech,” Leach told the Dallas Morning News last week. – Courier-Journal

VIDEO: Tom Jurich Fires Steve Kragthorpe

Louisville’s Steve Kragthorpe: “It’s not my decision”

Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe believes that the Cardinals (4-7, 1-5 Big East) are not far from getting back to the postseason. He just hopes he’s the coach to take them back there. “It’s not my decision to make. I’ll let the powers that be make that decision,” Kragthorpe said. “…Hopefully, I get a chance to stay here and win a bunch of games, because I think we’re on the cusp of doing that. Whether I am or not, I’m not in control of that.” Athletic director Tom Jurich was not in town and could not be reached for comment. Last week, Jurich issued a news release saying, “There will be an appropriate time to address the future” but that he was concentrating on finishing the season. Kragthorpe said this season could be summed up with one word: frustrating. In the Cards’ seven losses, they held a halftime lead on Pittsburgh; they trailed Connecticut, West Virginia and South Florida by one; and led Kentucky late in the fourth quarter. “We’ve been so close, in so many games and just couldn’t quite get over the hump,” Kragthorpe said. “I think it starts with UK. That was a game (that) had we been able to win … it can kind of jump-start you.” – Louisville Courier-Journal

Time for a Change at Louisville

What’s clear after nearly three complete seasons of University of Louisville football with Steve Kragthorpe is that progress remains elusive and unlikely, even if the coach was given another year. What’s clear is that as much as Kragthorpe continues to say he intends to stay, this is not a standard situation. It’s time for a change, a new direction, a new coach. It’s time for Kragthorpe and UofL athletic director Tom Jurich to shake hands on a sensible settlement that lets the program and coach exhale, reset and pursue fresh starts. – Courier-Journal

Louisville AD will address coaching situation at “appropriate time”

Embattled football coach Steve Kragthorpe expects to return for a fourth season at the University of Louisville. Questioned about his job status at his weekly media conference on Monday, Kragthorpe said that he hadn’t spoken with athletic director Tom Jurich about his status but that he was proceeding with recruiting plans and his other duties like a coach who will be back. “Until somebody tells me different, I plan on being here,” Kragthorpe said. “I’m not going anyplace voluntarily, so if it’s involuntarily — I can’t answer that question. But I plan on being here, and that’s the mode that I’m in.”… Jurich released a statement in response to an interview request by The Courier-Journal. “Right now, our focus is on the present,” Jurich said. “We really want our seniors to go out the right way and hopefully reach a bowl game. There will be an appropriate time to address the future, but we want to concentrate on winning our last two games at the moment.” Kragthorpe, who has two years left on the initial contract he signed in 2007, is 15-19 in his third season at UofL. It is his first season also serving as his own offensive coordinator. UofL was ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense from 2003 to ‘07, including No.1 in 2004. This season, the Cards rank 93rd among 120 FBS schools in total offense, averaging 339.4 yards per game. They rank 108th in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game. – Courier-Journal

Next Page »