LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska assistant coach Ted Gilmore isn’t saying whether Wyoming has contacted him about its vacant head coaching job.
But if the Cowboys call or have called, Gilmore is free to go for it.
“I think at some point that’s going to happen. He’ll have my full blessing,” said his boss, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini. “Ted’s ready to be a head coach, especially at that university, where he has strong ties. I know he’s responsible enough and he’s professional enough that he’ll handle it the right way and be ready to go.”
Rivals.com is reporting that Gilmore, a former Wyoming player and coach, will interview with athletic director Tom Burman and school president Tom Buchanan on Tuesday.
Gilmore said after Monday’s practice that he wouldn’t be in Laramie, Wyo., on Tuesday. Asked whether Wyoming officials would come to Lincoln, he said, “I don’t have anything to say about that, man. Let’s talk about Colorado.”
Gilmore said he’s ready to become a head coach, and Pelini said he and Gilmore have talked about the possible opportunity at Wyoming.
“He has strong emotional ties to that place,” Pelini said.
Pelini said he has no problem with any of his assistants pursuing other jobs. He said Wyoming would be “crazy” not to talk with Gilmore.
“To me, it’s about promoting your guys and making sure everybody has the best opportunity to advance in their career,” he said. “I think it’s just a matter of time before they come talk to him.”
Wyoming fired sixth-year coach Joe Glenn on Sunday after a 4-8 season.
Burman said during a conference call with reporters Monday that he has a short list of prospective candidates, but he declined to identify any of them. Burman said he wants to hire a new coach quickly but won’t rush the decision.
Gilmore played receiver for Wyoming, 1988-89. He was a graduate assistant for the Cowboys, 1994-96, and a full-time assistant in charge of receivers, 1997-98.
The Wichita, Kan., native made coaching stops at Houston, Purdue and Colorado before former Nebraska coach Bill Callahan hired him as Huskers’ receivers coach in 2005. Gilmore added recruiting coordinator duties to his job last year.
After Callahan was fired, Gilmore and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson were the only assistants retained by Pelini.
Gilmore’s contract runs through January 2010. His annual salary is $190,000.
In the 2008 Nebraska media guide, Gilmore’s biography calls him “a rising star in the profession.”
On the player personnel front, Pelini said quarterback Joe Ganz was healthy and ready to go for Friday’s game against Colorado. Ganz missed practice last week.
“There are no issues with Joe,” Pelini said. “He could have practiced last week, but we chose to give him a day or two (off).”
Middle linebacker Phillip Dillard, who has missed three games because of a leg injury, is “85 percent” healthy and should play against Colorado, Pelini said.
Pelini also said linebacker Cody Glenn remains suspended indefinitely. Pelini suspended Glenn on Nov. 11 for violating unspecified team rules.
Asked whether Glenn could return for a bowl game, Pelini said: “You never know. That’s why it’s ‘indefinitely suspended.'”
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Associated Press Writer Josh Funk in Omaha contributed to this report.
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