Tormey Tells Hedges He’S Ready To Talk UW Athletic Director Contacts Idaho Coach, Two Others Regarding Vacant Football Job

Idaho’s Chris Tormey is officially being considered for Washington’s football coaching job.

UW athletic director Barbara Hedges received permission from Idaho A.D. Mike Bohn before chatting with Tormey for about 10 minutes Friday.

“She called me to see if I was interested and I said I would be,” Tormey said. “She said she’d get back to me (today) or Sunday to let me know if I would be interviewed.”

Hedges, who fired Jim Lambright on Wednesday, also has received permission to visit with Oregon State’s Mike Riley and Toledo’s Gary Pinkel, who, like Tormey, is a former UW assistant. Toledo athletic director Pete Liske, formerly at Idaho and an assistant A.D. at UW, hired Tormey at UI.

Hedges took over at Washington in 1991. Tormey was an assistant coach there from 1984-94.

“I know Barbara pretty well. The conversation was more like `How are you doing?’ and `How is (Tormey’s wife) Kellie doing?”’ Tormey said. “She said she had talked to a lot of people about me and heard a lot of good things.”

Tormey is scheduled to be in Seattle recruiting Sunday evening through Wednesday morning, which could facilitate a meeting. He bolstered his resume this season with a Humanitarian Bowl win that capped a 9-3 season.

“For a kid from Spokane, it (Washington) is the best job in the country for me and my family,” he said. “We love Idaho, don’t get me wrong. When you consider everything, the chance to win a national championship and it being a high-profile program, it’s as good as it can get.

“If it works out great. If it doesn’t, we will be ecstatic to stay here.”

Bohn said he told Hedges, “Chris is a fine coach and we’re very proud of what he stands for and all he’s meant for our program.”

WHAT’S NEXT Tormey will be recruiting in Seattle next week, which could lead to a meeting at the UW.