Boulder – The search for a head football coach at Colorado is entering the stretch run, CU athletic director Mike Bohn said Tuesday.
“Obviously we begin to narrow down our focus a little bit,” he said from an undisclosed out-of-state location. “But we certainly are not in a place for an announcement yet.”
Asked whether he can see the end in sight, Bohn replied: “Possibly. But I think it takes comfort on both ends and with the entire process. We have some work to do yet.”
Bohn is optimistic the new coach will be in place by the time CU leaves Dec. 21 for the Champs Sports Bowl, played against Clemson on Dec. 27 in Orlando, Fla.
“I’d like our team to not be introduced to the coach on ESPN,” he said. “I’d like them to see their new coach face to face and interact before we leave for Orlando.”
UCLA assistant head coach Jon Embree and Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins have interviewed for the CU job, which opened last week when Gary Barnett was dismissed. Monday and Tuesday, Bohn had conversations with Mullen High School coach Dave Logan about the job. Bohn wouldn’t comment on the talks.
Bohn said his list of initial candidates still is intact.
Asked whether he had everyone he set out to talk to still in play, he replied: “Yes. Absolutely.”
Asked again if anyone had told him no, or that they weren’t interested in the job, Bohn said: “No. Absolutely not.”
“In the people that we’re engaging with, I haven’t had anything but positive feedback and interaction and recognition of the stature of the program nationally,” Bohn said.
He called the majority of TV, Internet and newspaper reports on the search “inaccurate.”
“Again, that’s why I choose to stay focused on the search, and trying to be a thorough as possible,” Bohn said.
Embree, now in a wait-and-see mode, said Tuesday he was happy with his interview.
“I felt really good about how things went,” he said.
If Embree, a former CU tight end and assistant coach, is hired, the benefit to Colorado recruiting could be massive. Eric Bieniemy, a former CU star currently the UCLA running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, might come with Embree, giving CU a needed boost in its presence with potential prospects.
The Buffaloes’ recruiting has been sluggish of late. Their current class is ranked last in the Big 12 by Rivals.com.
Meanwhile, word out of the Texas athletic department is Longhorns defensive coordinator Gene Chizik is not a candidate for the CU job. Athletic director DeLoss Dodds told The Dallas Morning News that CU has not contacted Texas seeking permission to speak with Chizik.
“If Gene was a candidate, Colorado would contact us for permission to talk to him, and that hasn’t happened,” Dodds said.
University of Miami defensive coordinator Randy Shannon told The Miami Herald he has not heard anything on any job front. His name also is circulating for the San Diego State job.
“I have to worry about LSU (in the Peach Bowl) and this recruiting class,” Shannon said. “That’s the only thing that makes a difference to me. Don’t make something over something that isn’t going to be.”
Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe declined to discuss any involvement with CU, and Broncos assistant Tim Brewster remains a fringe candidate.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
Coaching candidates
An update on the status of individuals believed to be on Colorado’s list to fill the position of head football coach:
Who’s in: Boise State’s Dan Hawkins, UCLA’s Jon Embree, Mullen High School’s Dave Logan
Who’s out: Butch Davis, Tulsa’s Steve Kragthorpe, Oregon’s Mike Bellotti, LSU’s Les Miles, Texas’ Gene Chizik
Jury’s still out: Broncos’ Tim Brewster, Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe, Miami’s Randy Shannon, Southern California’s Lane Kiffin
