Huskies' coordinator search goes undercover

With the defensive coordinator position empty and Washington coach Tyrone Willingham refusing interview requests until the position is filled, Huskies fans can do little but speculate.

UCLA's DeWayne Walker turned Willingham down to stay with the Bruins as defensive coordinator for new coach Rick Neuheisel. Former Michigan assistant Ron English took his name out of pool for the same job at Louisville.

Where the Huskies go from here is unknown partly because of Willingham's tenuous status.

University President Mark Emmert didn't offer specifics at the end of the season, but he spelled out the need to win in 2008 for Willingham to return for the fifth year of his contract.

The lack of security makes the job a hard sell for established, proven coaches, especially considering big-time programs like LSU, Miami, Michigan and Texas are also searching for defensive coordinators.

To overcome that, a lot of money and a multiyear contract will likely be necessary to lure an established coach. So far, that hasn't happened -- despite the president's involvement in the process.

Emmert spoke twice with Walker.

"I think that my role was best described as trying to be helpful to Tyrone and one of convenience," Emmert said. "He was talking to a coach in L.A. and I was in L.A. for the Rose Bowl.

"It was not me being aggressively involved."

Emmert said he will continue to be available to help sell candidates on the university.

"It's just a matter of me trying to be useful," he said. "I do it when we're looking for key faculty, deans, coaches. All the people around me know if they're trying to recruit, I'm happy to be of assistance."

Emmert's role as recruiter went much further in 2000 when, as chancellor at Louisiana State, he sidestepped athletic director Joe Dean, fired football coach Gerry DiNardo and hand-picked Nick Saban and doubled the salary for the new coach.

It wasn't a popular move at the time -- Dean retired a few months later -- but Saban led the Tigers to a national championship three years later.

With Willingham on the hot seat with two years left on his contract, Emmert's influence could be a selling point to a potential candidate.

One thing Emmert will not do, however, is meddle with Willingham's search.

Walker said Willingham also offered jobs to UCLA assistants Chuck Bullough (linebackers) and Todd Howard (defensive line).

The problem with that is those positions are already filled at Washington by longtime Huskies assistants Chris Tormey and Randy Hart, respectively.

Emmert said he was not privy to Willingham's discussions with Walker and did not have details of offers made to Bullough and Howard.

That kind of dealing could cause friction with Tormey and Hart, but the president backs Willingham.

"Those are completely Tyrone's decisions, and I have confidence he is handling them properly," he said.