Kragthorpe Will Not Be Tulsa's Next Coach

Originally Published: Jan 11, 2011 8:20 PM CDT

More on the Tulsa Coaching Situation:
- Garrick McGee and Joe DeForest are Top Two Candidates at TU

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – Sports Director John Holcomb spoke with Steve Kragthorpe Tuesday evening. The former Tulsa head coach told Holcomb that he would not interview for the open head coaching job with the Golden Hurricane. Kragthorpe has other possibilities in coaching, including either in the NFL or another BCS conference school.

With Kragthorpe no longer under consideration for the vacancy left by Todd Graham, the leading candidate, reportedly, is Chad Morris. Morris left Tulsa this week to take over as the offensive coordinator at Clemson. He reportedly interviewed for the Tulsa job Tuesday night. Clemson has a news conference planned for Thursday to announce that Morris has officially joined its staff.

A report on TigerIllustrated.com, the Clemson Tigers' Rivals.com site, said that the talk of Morris remaining at Tulsa as the head coach is untrue.

"A source told TigerIllustrated.com late Tuesday afternoon that Morris-to-Clemson remains status quo. The source said, 'He's getting on a plane to South Carolina tomorrow morning, regardless.'...Morris mailed a majority of his office's belongings to Clemson Monday morning. The 42-year old is set to arrive in South Carolina around mid-day Wednesday. Also, Morris has already lined up a house for lease in the Clemson area, a source said Tuesday."

Other names believed to be in the mix potentially are Oklahoma State’s Joe Deforest and Arkansas’ Garrick McGee.

Kragthorpe took over as the head coach in 2003 and went to three bowl games in four seasons.