Alabama State's Coe Leaving For Job With Raiders

Monday, March 26th 2007, 5:54 pm

By: News On 6

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama State football coach Charles Coe, unable to get timely assurance on a contract extension, is leaving to become wide receivers coach for the Oakland Raiders.

Coe said Monday that he accepted the NFL job Sunday night after failing to get an extension on his four-year, $125,000 contract that was set to expire in December.

"I think they were going to try to work something out, but there were no guarantees," Coe said Monday after telling his players of the decision. "My window of opportunity to let the Raiders know that I was going to accept the job or not -- I had to let them know something."

Receivers coach Reggie Barlow, a former Alabama State and NFL receiver, will serve as interim coach during the final two weeks of spring practice.

Coe posted a 29-18 record in four seasons at Alabama State, including two Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division titles and the 2004 overall league championship.

"He has represented the university and our student-athletes with great class," university President Joe Lee said.

Coe took over the program on the eve of fall practice before the 2003 season after L.C. Cole was fired following the school's investigation into NCAA rules violations.