OU's Chuck Long finds way into coaching rumor mill

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ University of Oklahoma offensive coordinator Chuck Long is the latest name on a list of potential candidates for an open coaching position at Illinois. <br/><br/>Fighting Illini coach

Tuesday, November 23rd 2004, 10:57 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ University of Oklahoma offensive coordinator Chuck Long is the latest name on a list of potential candidates for an open coaching position at Illinois.

Fighting Illini coach Ron Turner was fired Monday after eight seasons in Champaign.

Long says he hasn't been contacted by Illinois and that his focus is on the Big Twelve championship game.

Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther says he plans to conduct a broad search, but won't discuss possible candidates.

The 41-year-old Long is from Wheaton, Illinois, and was an All-American at Iowa. He's in his tenth season as an assistant, including five at OU. He's in his third season as OU's offensive coordinator.