Colorado State’s search appears to be closing in on a new football coach, with an announcement possible this week, according to a source close to the situation.
CSU athletic director Jack Graham would not comment Sunday on when he’ll make a decision, but said: “I’m pleased with the progress we’re making. And I’m optimistic that we are going to find a very qualified head coach.”
Graham has been searching for a replacement for Steve Fairchild, whom he fired a week ago. Graham has said there is an urgency to finding a coach so the new hire can assemble a staff and make the most of a short recruiting season. Among the coaches known to be interested are Notre Dame wide receivers coach Tony Alford, LSU wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales, former Colorado coach Gary Barnett, Maryland offensive coordinator Gary Crowton and Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain.
Experience will play a big role in the hire, Graham said.
“Absolutely that means something to me,” he said. “Someone who has been a head coach and has had a successful head coaching career is obviously somebody that we’re going to be attracted to.
“And equally, someone who is an assistant coach in a very high-responsibility kind of role, who has had enough experience in that kind of a role that would give us the view, the belief and confidence that that guy could immediately step up and take on the responsibilities of the head coach — which is akin to being the chief executive officer of a business — would be somebody that we would consider as well.”
The current recruiting contact period ends Saturday. Currently, CSU assistant coaches are on the road recruiting prospective athletes. The next contact window doesn’t open until Jan. 4.
“I’m not going to comment on the timing of this only because in doing so it could create somewhat of an artificial time frame that could compromise the process, the quality of the process,” Graham said. “And I just don’t want to do that. So, we’re still in process.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
