Coaching Search update

Take this for what it's worth, but I read it on the Kentucky rivals site. Have no idea if it's accurate, just reposting it here for discussion.


Mitch's top 4...

...are Butch Jones, Tommy Tuberville, Sonny Dykes, and Todd Haley. This is from the doctor in Lexington that has dropped me some nuggets of info over the last couple of weeks. This is the list he got yesterday from someone he trusts. That is also the order of interest. He told me that Petrino got submarined because Eli Capilouto didnt want any part of it and removed himself from having anything to do with the coaching search whatsoever, which let MB veto any chance of Petrino getting a chance at the job. There will still be a committee vote, but Mitch will make his choice and then the committee will vote on that choice - they have no power in the search process whatsoever.

I asked him about the Rich Rodriguez stuff and he said that he has never heard his name mentioned even once. For all intents and purposes, that is Mitch's list, and Gary Andersen, Kliff Kingsbury, Ron Caragher, and Mike MacIntyre are the fallbacks. Phil Fulmer is not being considered for the job.

He heard that Kirby Smart and Hokies DC Bud Foster were contacted directly by MB last week and they both turned the job down. I also asked him if he'd possibly heard anything about Jim Leavitt's name being floated around since MB supposedly contacted alot of NFL coaches, and he had heard the name mentioned, but only once or twice, but he didnt think he was being seriously considered.

From what he has heard, it sounds like Butch Jones is the guy Mitch is ready to throw the kitchen sink at. He loves his coaching style and feels he'll be a great fit for the program.

As always, this guy isn't a direct source, he is just passing along info that he has heard and I am, in turn, passing it on to you guys.