Huskies turned down again

Despite a national expert speculating on prime-time television over the leading candidate and a flurry of other reports, the defensive coordinator job at the University of Washington remains vacant.

UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker will remain at UCLA after being at the center of a tug of war between new Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel and the Huskies.

Where the Huskies' search goes from here is unclear. Walker is the second candidate to spurn the UW. Former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English accepted the same job at Louisville.

Walker, who is a regarded schemer and praised recruiter, said he felt like a recruit himself the past couple of weeks.

"It was a tough decision," Walker said. "Tyrone (Willingham) did a thorough job. It was the toughest call I've had to make in a long time. But at the end of the day, it was the unfinished business (at UCLA), the family part of it, the players and the recruits -- and me feeling confident that we can still do things."

Walker was not just Willingham's top pick to fill the Huskies' vacancy, he was apparently the No. 1 choice of university President Mark Emmert.

Walker said he had a couple of talks with Emmert in addition to a "thorough" and "honest" process with Willingham.

On New Year's Eve, The Sporting News reported that Walker accepted Washington's offer. During Tuesday night's Rose Bowl, ABC's Kirk Herbstreit said he expected Walker to leave UCLA for Washington.

Walker admitted he was close to leaving, in part because Willingham had also persuaded Bruins assistants Chuck Bullough (linebackers) and Todd Howard (defensive line) to come to Seattle with Walker, despite Chris Tormey and Randy Hart holding those positions.

"I would say, yeah, I was (close to accepting Washington's offer)," Walker said. "I give all the credit to Coach Willingham. I think he sold Todd and Chuck, but at the end of the day we put all the pieces together and this is where we wanted to be. Tyrone was putting pressure on me a little bit, but I wanted to give Rick some time to see if we could make this all fit."

Neuheisel announced Bullough and Howard would remain at UCLA, as well.

Neuheisel would not discuss the financial details of agreed-upon contracts with the coaches, but said in regard to Walker, "I think DeWayne feels appreciated."

By retaining Walker, Bullough and Howard, Neuheisel won his first battle with the Huskies, whom he coached from 1999-2002.

All three coaches met with Neuheisel on Wednesday and walked away with the same vision.

"At the end of the day, this is about winning championships," Walker said. "When I had a chance to listen to his vision and his commitment and his vision to get to the championship level, that was definitely important."

He said it was just as important that his colleagues felt the same way.

Former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell hired all three two years ago.

Walker, 47, has become a hot coaching commodity in his two seasons at UCLA under Dorrell, who was fired Dec. 3.

The Bruins ranked 25th in the nation in rushing defense (115.42 yards per game), 26th in pass efficiency defense (113.85), 33rd in scoring defense (22.75 points ) and 34th in total defense (349.75 yards).

They were also tied for third nationally in third-down conversion defense (28.6 percent).

In 2006, UCLA tied for first in the Pac-10, allowing 91.1 rushing yards per game and 304.8 total yards per game.

Walker also recruits in Southern California and has helped UCLA reel in 21 verbal commitments for a class that Scout.com ranks sixth in the nation. (Verbal commitments are nonbinding until players sign national letters of intent, which they can do beginning Feb. 6.)

Before UCLA, Walker was the secondary coach for the Washington Redskins for two years and had spent the previous two seasons working in the same capacity for the New York Giants.

Walker was the associate head coach/secondary coach at USC in 2001 and also coached the New England Patriots' secondary for three seasons. He has held positions at California, Brigham Young, Oklahoma State, Utah State and got his start at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., as well.

The Huskies' eventual hire will replace Kent Baer, who was fired Dec. 17 after 13 seasons under Willingham, including the past three at Washington. He must also produce -- Willingham's job is anything but secure after going 11-25 through three seasons of his five-year contract.

Under Baer, the 2007 Huskies defense gave up an average of 446.4 yards per game -- more than any team in UW history. That number shattered the previous high of 419.1 set in Willingham's first season at Washington.

The Huskies also have openings for special teams coordinator and running backs coach.

Willingham fired Bob Simmons after three years of coaching special teams and tight ends, and former running backs coach Trent Miles accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater, Indiana State.