Advertisement

Sources: Baylor weighing 'five or six' coaching candidates

Pat Forde

The Baylor football coaching search is likely to continue at least into the weekend and a number of potential candidates remain in play, sources told Yahoo Sports Wednesday.

Despite an ESPN report early Wednesday saying California’s Sonny Dykes has emerged as the leading candidate for the job, sources told Yahoo that Baylor “has not locked in on anybody.” While Dykes’ name remains in the mix, he is just one of “five or six” possible hires.

A source familiar with the process said interviews with candidates could take place later this week, and that at least one coach still playing could be a target after his team’s game this weekend. That could be Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre, whose Buffaloes play Washington Friday night for the Pac-12 championship. MacIntyre is a leading candidate for national Coach of the Year honors, leading Colorado to a 10-2 record after 10 straight losing seasons and three straight last-place finishes in the Pac-12 South.

Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre could be a candidate for Baylor's job. (Getty)
Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre could be a candidate for Baylor’s job. (Getty)

MacIntyre, a Baptist, is in line for a contract extension at Colorado. His current deal, which pays him about $2 million a year, runs through 2018. MacIntyre has earned an additional $400,000 this year in performance bonuses, according to terms of his contract.

Other coaches still playing this weekend whose names have come up in connection with other jobs, though not necessarily Baylor: Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley and Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

There were multiple reports late Tuesday that SMU’s Chad Morris turned down overtures from Baylor to stay at his current school, where a contract extension is in the works. However, sources told Yahoo that Morris never had an offer presented to him and simply was one of those five or six potential candidates for the Baylor job.

North Carolina’s Larry Fedora was believed to be on Baylor’s radar early, but that appears to be a non-starter. North Carolina sources told Yahoo Sports last week they did not sense interest from Fedora in the Baylor job and seemed confident he will remain in Chapel Hill.

More college football coverage from Yahoo Sports: