Having been snubbed by UCLA coach Jim Mora, a former Huskies walk-on and Seahawks head coach, and former UW assistant Gary Pinkel, head coach for 13 years at Missouri, Washington is turning its attention to Boise State’s Chris Petersen and Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.
Seeking a replacement for Steve Sarkisian, who bolted UW after a five-year run earlier this week to become head coach at USC, AD Scott Woodward will, according to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, interview Chris Peterson Friday. McMurphy reported that Woodward interviewed Nussmeier Thursday. He is a former Huskies assistant. They are considered frontrunners for the job, once Mora signed a six-year extension with UCLA and Pinkel elected to stay at Missouri.
Petersen, 49, is 92-12 since becoming Boise State’s head coach in 2006. He was a candidate for Washington’s top job when the school hired Sarkisian in 2009. Petersen also was a candidate for the USC opening before the Trojans filled it with Sarkisian.
Petersen’s Broncos have played in seven bowl games, compiling a 5-2 record. During his career, Petersen won four Western Athletic Conference championships and one Mountain West title. He has two BCS bowl victories and is a two-time winner of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award (2006, 2009).
Nussmeier, 53 next week, worked as Washington’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Sarkisian from 2009-11. Prior to that, he served as quarterbacks coach of the St. Louis Rams for two seasons (2006-07).
Nussmeier moved to the University of Alabama Jan. 18, 2012, where he has worked under Don James disciple Nick Saban.
While Woodward is interviewing candidates, the school appointed former quarterback and current quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo as interim head coach. Tuiasosopo will direct the Huskies in their bowl game.
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