Report: Washington interviewing Petersen, Nussmeier
Dec 5, 2013, 4:42 PM | Updated: 5:04 pm
By Brady Henderson
Boise State coach Chris Petersen and Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, two names linked to the head-coaching vacancy at Washington, are reportedly interviewing for the job.
The school was scheduled to interview Nussmeier on Thursday and Petersen on Friday, according to Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com. Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported Wednesday that those two, according to a sources, are the front-runners to replace Steve Sarkisian, who on Monday was lured away from UW by USC.
Petersen, 49, is 92-12 with a 5-2 record in Bowl games during his eight seasons at Boise State. He was a candidate for the USC job before reportedly withdrawing his name from consideration.
“We are fully committed to Coach Petersen remaining at Boise State and, as always, intend to do everything in our power to support him as Boise State’s football coach,” school president Bob Kustra wrote Thursday in a statement.
Nussmeier, 42, was Washington’s offensive coordinator from 2009-11 before taking the same job at Alabama, where he’s spent the past two seasons.
Earlier Thursday, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel shot down rumors that he could be a candidate to return to Washington, where he was an assistant under Don James. Jim Mora, initially considered a leading candidate for the job, instead signed a contract extension on Tuesday that will keep him at UCLA.
UW was reportedly scheduled to interview defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, who initially appeared to be following Sarkisian to USC.
On Wednesday, the school named quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo the interim coach for the Huskies’ upcoming bowl game.
