Dirk Koetter interested in UNLV job

The quality of resumes of the coaches who have expressed an interest in UNLV — either directly or indirectly — is considerably higher than five years ago when Sanford was hired. According to one UNLV source, the top names who have shown interest are Bobby Hauck, Dennis Franchione and Dirk Koetter. Hauck is 78-16 in seven seasons at Montana, and recently was named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year for the third time in four seasons. Franchione, who also coached Alabama and Texas A&M, turned around Mountain West Conference programs New Mexico and Texas Christian. Koetter, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator, was the coach at Boise State and Arizona State. – Review-Journal

Sanford Nears End at UNLV

The inexorable road to unemployment continued for UNLV coach Mike Sanford on Saturday night in Utah’s win at Sam Boyd Stadium. Utah’s victory stretched its win streak over the Rebels to, well, two. But that’s deceiving. All-time, Utah is 12-2 against UNLV. The only Vegas wins over the Utes were in 2007 and 1979. Going into Saturday’s game, Utah averaged 40 points in its series with the Rebels. The loss weighed heavily on Sanford, who is almost certain to lose his job, unless his team somehow rallies. His five-year record in Vegas is 13-41… The calls for Sanford’s job would be unrelenting — except that there isn’t much interest in the program, anyway. The crowd on Saturday was sparse and disinterested… Meanwhile, the death watch continues for Sanford, who actually signed a three-year contract extension last season. But that doesn’t mean much, considering the school can buy out his contract at any time for $220,000. The move was largely to help with recruiting. Sanford is currently in his fifth season at UNLV — the length of his original contract. – Deseret News

Mike Sanford’s Tenure at UNLV Likely Nearing an End

On second thought, perhaps Mike Sanford should remain UNLV football coach for the next decade or so. These 7 p.m. kickoffs can be tough on the ol’ deadline writing skills, but with the Rebels of late, you always have a pretty good idea where things are headed at halftime. I’m not sure where to begin this week. Other than … Wow. The Rebels lost their fourth straight game Saturday night, and it was as deserved a setback as the previous three, but this was hardly an outcome that should have been decided by the fourth quarter. But it was so poorly managed by UNLV, so poorly coached, the end result was inevitable. Utah beat UNLV 35-15 before a homecoming crowd of 26,315 at Sam Boyd Stadium, beat a Rebels team that couldn’t get out of its own way all night. What in the world are these people doing?… But the side of the ball that has helped dig Sanford this seemingly inescapable hole in his fifth season didn’t get much help at all from those trusted to score enough points, or at least throw the ball to the correct jerseys. So here we are, another week, another loss: UNLV is 2-5, two losses from once again guaranteeing it can’t be considered for a postseason bowl game. The Rebels next play at winless New Mexico on Saturday, when one of the nation’s worst teams will be without its first-year head coach, suspended for allegedly punching an assistant. The Rebels have lost a school-record 20 straight conference road games, so you figure the game is at best a pick ‘em. It’s also true the Rebels own as much chance winning at Texas Christian on Halloween as Balloon Boy does not being teased by schoolmates in the coming years. At best two weeks from now, the Rebels are 3-6. Which means to become bowl eligible, they must beat a Colorado State team they have never defeated in Las Vegas on Nov. 7, win at Air Force the following week, and on Nov. 28 defeat an improved San Diego State side that has toppled UNLV two straight years. OK then. – Las Vegas Review-Journal

Did Mike Sanford really say that?

Have you heard the latest from UNLV football coach Mike Sanford? “In looking at it, I felt like we had nine plays on defense that killed us,” he said two days after BYU crushed the Rebels 59-21. He didn’t say which nine plays. I’m guessing it was the Cougars’ eight touchdowns and one field goal. – Las Vegas Sun

End Near for Mike Sanford at UNLV?

If this is bouncing back, I’d hate to see what UNLV’s football team looks like when it’s not focused. I hope the talk this week isn’t about missing defensive gaps or some nonsense about the scout team’s offensive line unable to give the starters a good look, because then we’d have to get a little loopy ourselves, throw up the arms and impose our own media lockdown. There’s an idea — voluntarily limit our access to Mike Sanford’s team until it proves capable of holding an opponent under 50 points. We might never ask another question… Neal Smatresk was said to be out of state Saturday night, but wherever the UNLV president was, I’m guessing Sanford hopes that city’s cable provider doesn’t get The Mtn. Smatresk on Monday stated his intention to watch and evaluate UNLV’s program on a weekly basis following the UNR game. He was concerned. He was troubled. Wait until he sees the tape of this baby. What to do? The Rebels are 2-4 today, and at least a few games remain (at New Mexico, home to Colorado State and San Diego State) that you would think UNLV might not get embarrassed in and possibly could win. But how long can Smatresk and interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie go with Sanford, now 13-40 at UNLV and in his fifth season? They’re losing fan interest (you know, whatever level there was in the first place) with each passing blowout defeat. There is a $60,000 or so difference in Sanford’s buyout clause if he is terminated before Dec. 4 or after. How much is it worth to those in charge to possibly insert some sort of life into a fading season and perennial losing program? – Las Vegas Journal-Review

Is UNLV Coach Mike Sanford “Panicked?”

There is a little panic going on here. A little circling of the wagons. Hey, it happens when you are a head coach in a fifth year, still searching for your first winning season, and you’re coming off a forgettable loss in which some of your players afterward questioned the team’s mindset. Most coaches not named Pete Carroll, at some time or another (and many on a daily basis), restrict access to us bothersome types in possession of recording devices and meddling queries about injuries and position changes and other routine points. Like if there is one coach on staff capable of counting well enough to avoid delay-of-game penalties following timeouts when trying to attempt tying field goals in the closing seconds of a conference road game. You know, small stuff like that… But you don’t need a Masters degree to figure out what’s going on here. He’s worried and has good reason. The loss at Wyoming and how it transpired was beyond brutal for a coach in his fifth season. Teams with bowl aspirations don’t lose to a team that finished in last place last season, is picked to finish last again and started a true freshman quarterback under a first-year coach running a new offense. It was an awful loss for a UNLV team that has insisted things are different this season. UNLV now faces a stretch of UNR and home to Brigham Young and Utah. Things could go south fast here. They have at some point during each of Sanford’s four seasons. A few starters — without being prodded in the least by reporters — said after the Wyoming game that some players didn’t take the Cowboys seriously enough. Not a good thing. So it is no coincidence that for the first time in Sanford’s tenure (which includes, remember, four previous “circus” weeks for the UNR game), he is limiting access now. He will tell you it has nothing to do with the Wyoming loss or what his players said afterward, or the fact he now faces the most critical three-game stretch of his tenure, one that could ultimately decide his fate as UNLV coach. He will tell you there is not a shred of truth to any of that. On its face, limiting access this week means nothing. A few levels below, there is some panic. – Las Vegas Review-Journal

Mark Sanford Begins Season on Hot Seat at UNLV

Sanford probably saved his job by leading the Rebels to consecutive overtime upsets at Arizona State and Iowa State last season. But the Rebels still finished 5-7, losing at San Diego State 42-21 in their finale. It was the Aztecs’ only victory over a Mountain West Conference opponent last season. Sanford has an 11-36 record in four seasons at UNLV, which has endured five straight losing campaigns. – ESPN.com

Rapid Fire: UNLV, Iowa, Clemson, UTEP Notes

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on no less than four jobs…

UNLV

The case against Sanford: Sanford is constantly talking about turning the corner, but will he be the one to get them across it?Sanford is in the final season of his four-year contract. He signed on to coach the Rebels after leading the Utah Utes to a Fiesta Bowl victory as offensive coordinator in 2004. The Rebels’ head coach that season, John Robinson, resigned halfway through the season and his team finished 2-9 setting the trend for Sanford… In four years as head coach, his record speaks for itself: nine wins and 34 losses. Of those nine wins, only one has come against a team that has finished (or has to this point in the 2008 season) a winning record. – The Rebel Yell

Iowa

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Off-field problems the last two years haven’t helped Ferentz’s case, but the team has been playing better, and it faces a key stretch of games that will dictate the administration’s course with its $3 million-a-year coach. The five wins this fall aren’t too impressive, though Iowa should get a sixth at home against struggling Purdue. Still, the Hawkeyes might have to win two of these three remaining games — at Illinois and Minnesota, home against Penn State — for Ferentz to keep his job. – Sporting News

Clemson

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster has been contacted about filling the coaching vacancy at Clemson, sources close to the search said. Foster, 49, is one of several candidates believed to be under consideration to replace Tommy Bowden, who stepped down Oct. 13. Others include Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, TCU coach Gary Patterson, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Clemson likely will talk to coordinators who are candidates before the season ends and wait until after the season to speak with sitting head coaches. – Rivals.com

UTEP

Mike Price, UTEP: The 0-3 start made things very shaky in El Paso. Winning three of four since has helped, and while the Miners won’t win the C-USA West (Tulsa will), Price can strengthen his case in games against state and conference rivals Rice, SMU and Houston. Win two of those three, and he’s safe. – Sporting News

Rapid Fire: Focus on Groh, Willingham, Rodriguez, Sanford

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy…

Virginia

Sitting at 1-3 and on the heels of a disappointing loss to Duke, Virginia coach Al Groh was certainly sitting on the hot seat. Losing to Duke, in the eyes of the Virginia faithful, was not acceptable. It had been four years since the Blue Devils actually beat an ACC foe. Throw in the off-the-field problems that the Cavaliers’ coaching staff endured and there was ample reason to think Groh”s time at his alma mater was coming to a quick end. Yet magically, in Groh-like fashion,- he seems to coach his best football with his back against the wall - the naysayers were silenced with the current three-game winning streak. Making it to a bowl game, which would require two more wins, would likely buy Groh another year, but another loss to in-state rival Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale would make it an interesting $6 million decision for the movers and shakers. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Washington

Tyrone Willingham, Washington: The fit: Kiffin. Knows the West Coast, and his dynamic personality is a perfect fit for a program desperate for enthusiasm — and for millions to upgrade facilities. – Sporting News

Michigan

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin joined Bill Simonson on “The Huge Show” to talk about Rich Rodriguez’s first season with the Wolverines and Saturday’s game against Michigan State. “I have been very, very pleased with Rich in the way he has embraced Michigan,” Martin said. “He’s a good guy. He’s a very experienced coach. Truly, the record we have so far (2-5) doesn’t reflect what his tenure will be as coach. Would I like more Ws? Sure, but it is what it is.” – Grand Rapids Press

UNLV

Recruiting is the lifeblood for any college sport, and UNLV’s defense is anemic because of shortcomings in football coach Mike Sanford’s early classes… But UNLV (3-4, 0-3 Mountain West) has allowed more than 500 yards in each of the past three games and has just six takeaways all season. The Rebels reached this low point for a reason. – Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Firing Line - 9/29/2008

A few excerpts from the morning news about coaches on “The Firing Line”…

That Tommy Bowden and Al Groh have hit their ceilings. The last time I did a “worst coaches list” in the summer of 2007, three of the five choices (Dennis Franchione, Bill Doba and Karl Dorrell) were fired by season’s end. The other two, Clemson’s Bowden and Virginia’s Groh, came within a game of winning their respective ACC divisions, achieving temporary redemption and earning fat offseason contract extensions. A year later, any semblance of momentum is shot. Following Saturday’s loss to Maryland, the most talented team of Bowden’s tenure is 3-2 and Clemson fans are likely resigned to the likelihood that no Bowden-coached team is ever going to make it past the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Meanwhile, Groh’s program is sinking like a rock. It’s one thing to have a down season; following a 31-3 loss to Duke, the Cavs — a year after reaching the Gator Bowl — appear well on their way to a 1-11 nightmare. It appears both schools have a whole lot invested in a pair of coaches who will never eclipse anything greater than they already have. – SI

Gettin’ toasty seat — Al Groh. The numerous off-field issues the program had, coupled with its losing record and the direction the team is headed could add up. – ESPN

The Clemson Tigers are stuck with Tommy Bowden after giving him a six-year extension in December just because Arkansas made a phone call. But remember, this is Clemson, not exactly a bastion of integrity, and a university with enough boosters used to paying off people, most illegally, so that a few million to break a contract should be no problem. – Palm Beach Post

(Chancellor Jim) Rogers and (Head Coach Mike) Sanford aren’t exactly best pals, because a couple of years ago Rogers wrote this memo to the higher-ups at UNLV saying that although Sanford wasn’t the problem with the football program, the program had problems he couldn’t fix. – Las Vegas Sun