OU football co-defensive coordinator on short list for Pitt job

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is among the candidates for the coaching job at Pitt. <br/><br/>Thursday, former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt says

Friday, December 17th 2004, 7:08 am

By: News On 6

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is among the candidates for the coaching job at Pitt.

Thursday, former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt says he's not interested in the job. Wannstedt was believed to be the front-runner to succeed Walt Harris.

But Wannstedt called Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long Wednesday and pulled his name out of consideration.

Houston Texans assistant Jon Hoke and Pelini are expected to talk with Long, while Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads also is interested in the job.

Pelini is a former assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers and was a Nebraska assistant last year before moving to O-U.

Long was the senior associate AD at OU before being hired by Pitt in May 2003.

Long says he will make no comments on the search until Pitt introduces its next coach.