UW Hires Neuheisel UI’S Tormey Retains Interest In Osu

The University of Washington’s new football coach is Rick Neuheisel. Symbolic of the strange turn of events in a hush-hush 11-day search, it was Colorado - not Washington - which announced the surprise selection.

“It’s been a very, very quick and unbelievable last couple of days,” Neuheisel told media representatives assembled outside his office in Boulder.

The former Buffaloes coach will be introduced in Seattle at a Monday press conference. Colorado went public with Neuheisel’s departure Saturday night in Boulder.

Neuheisel, who agreed to a seven-year contract reportedly worth $1.5 million annually, eluded media radar as he slipped into Seattle on Wednesday on a supposed recruiting trip. He interviewed Thursday.

Idaho’s Chris Tormey and Toledo’s Gary Pinkel, both ex-Huskies assistants with ties to the Don James era, had been considered the front-runners among the known candidates.

However, Tormey isn’t out of the coaching sweepstakes.

Oregon State has a coaching vacancy, and Tormey appears to be a prominent candidate. He interviewed for nearly 4 hours Thursday with OSU officials, including athletic director Mitch Barnhart, in Portland.

“I believe Chris is the No. 1 candidate at OSU,” said Idaho athletic director Mike Bohn, who is friends with Barnhart.

Barnhart told an Oregon newspaper Saturday he hopes to conclude his search by Monday.

“If it’s not over by Wednesday, as far as I’m concerned I’m not going to be interested,” Tormey said. He added that a visit to Corvallis “is a possibility but nothing is set up.”

When Toledo A.D. Pete Liske learned Saturday morning Pinkel wasn’t UW’s choice, he assumed a congratulatory call to Tormey was in order.

“I got his voice mail and I was just telling him congratulations,” said Liske, who hired Tormey at Idaho four years ago. “Kellie (Tormey’s wife) picked up the phone and we started chatting.

“After that, I called Gary and told him, `Chris didn’t get the job either,’ and Gary said, `WHAT!”’

Washington’s athletic director, Barbara Hedges, informed Tormey Saturday morning that “they were going to go in a different direction,” the Vandals coach said. “I was disappointed, but I was ready for it, either way. I felt if it was right, I would get it. If not, then I was OK with it.

“I don’t have any animosity at all.”

Neuheisel, meanwhile, has a fatter wallet. He made $650,000 per year at Colorado, but was limited to a one-year contract as a state employee.

He said Hedges called him Friday night with a “blockbuster offer, a substantial deal.”

Neuheisel, 37, was 33-14 in four seasons at Colorado. He replaces Jim Lambright, who was fired by Hedges on Dec. 30.

In many regards, Neuheisel fits the profile of what Hedges was believed to be seeking. He is a young, well-known coach who could mend the fractured relations with boosters and players that seemed to plague Lambright’s tenure.

Neuheisel has one habit UW followers will like. He beat one of UW’s chief rivals, Oregon, twice in recent bowl games. Colorado beat the Ducks 38-6 to end the 1995 season and 51-43 in the Aloha Bowl two weeks ago. Neuheisel’s Buffaloes also beat Washington 33-21 in the 1996 Holiday Bowl.

Circle this date: UW plays Colorado in Husky Stadium Sept. 25.

Neuheisel, Tormey, Pinkel and ex-Texas coach John Mackovic were the only candidates interviewed. Northwestern’s Gary Barnett, whose name popped up in some news reports, wasn’t interviewed, a UW spokesman said.

“I think in the long term, for my career and my family, this is the best decision,” Neuheisel said. “There were a lot of reasons for me to say yes.”

Tormey might find himself in a similar position soon. Hesitant when the Huskies’ situation was unresolved, he now acknowledges interest in Oregon State.

“It is a much better job than it was five years ago,” he said.

OSU also has interviewed Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick. Others thought to be on OSU’s list are UCLA assistants Al Borges and Nick Aliotti, and former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Greg McMackin.

OSU officials phoned Tormey Saturday. “It was just kind of where they are at, and they’re going to get back to me,” he said.

OSU went 5-6 last season under Riley - their best season since 1971. The Beavers, though, have made strides, pumping $10 million into football facilities this decade. The 2-year-old, 60,000-square foot Valley Football Center houses state of the art offices, a new weight room, locker room, meeting rooms and deluxe booster facilities.

OSU also returns 30 of its top 44 players. And the Beavers’ 1999 nonconference schedule (Fresno State, Nevada and Georgia Southern) is easier than Idaho’s (Auburn, Washington State, Wyoming and Texas Christian).

Asked if he would accept if OSU offered him him the job, Tormey said, “I don’t know enough about it yet.”

By the numbers Neuheisel’s record at Colorado: Season Rec. 1995 10-2 1996 10-2 1997 5-6 1998 8-4 Totals 33-14