Having been snubbed by UCLA coach Jim Mora, a former Huskies walk-on and Seahawks head coach, and former UW assistant Gary Pinkel, head coach for 13 years at Missouri, Washington is turning its attention to Boise State’s Chris Petersen and Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.
Seeking a replacement for Steve Sarkisian, who bolted UW after a five-year run earlier this week to become head coach at USC, AD Scott Woodward will, according to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, interview Chris Peterson Friday. McMurphy reported that Woodward interviewed Nussmeier Thursday. He is a former Huskies assistant. They are considered frontrunners for the job, once Mora signed a six-year extension with UCLA and Pinkel elected to stay at Missouri.
Petersen, 49, is 92-12 since becoming Boise State’s head coach in 2006. He was a candidate for Washington’s top job when the school hired Sarkisian in 2009. Petersen also was a candidate for the USC opening before the Trojans filled it with Sarkisian.
Petersen’s Broncos have played in seven bowl games, compiling a 5-2 record. During his career, Petersen won four Western Athletic Conference championships and one Mountain West title. He has two BCS bowl victories and is a two-time winner of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award (2006, 2009).
Nussmeier, 53 next week, worked as Washington’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Sarkisian from 2009-11. Prior to that, he served as quarterbacks coach of the St. Louis Rams for two seasons (2006-07).
Nussmeier moved to the University of Alabama Jan. 18, 2012, where he has worked under Don James disciple Nick Saban.
While Woodward is interviewing candidates, the school appointed former quarterback and current quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo as interim head coach. Tuiasosopo will direct the Huskies in their bowl game.
6 Comments
How could Nussmeier possibly be 53 years old?
Uhh … Nussmeier is more like 43 y.o.
I wish UW had a shot at getting Saban. I also wish I had a Ferrari.
Hasn’t the UW suffered enough over the past 15 years picking outsiders as head coaches who use them as a stepping stone? Why not turn to some young, loyal, home grown talent for once? Drop the interim and make Marques Tuiasosopo the head coach.
If it comes down to Petersen or Nussmeier, it’s a no-brainer. Petersen has proven pretty much what he can at Boise State with five conference titles, five bowl victories (including two BCS bowls) and two Bear Bryant Awards while Nussmeier has never run a program at any level. If Petersen is willing to come to the UW, sign him before he changes his mind. Coaches like this don’t grow on trees and the Huskies don’t need to bring in another guy who’ll have to learn on the job…this isn’t 2008.
Absolutely true. Petersen’s been doing more with less for years. Nussmeier is intriguing, but if your picking him on his success at Alabama you’re likely just getting another Sark, an OC who had some of the best talent in the nation to work with.