Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, one of potential candidates to become the next head football coach at Connecticut, will be in Little Rock, Ark., Tuesday for the presentation of the 2013 Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
Narduzzi is one of five finalists for the award, established in 1996 to honor legendary Arkansas head coach Frank Broyles. UConn athletic director Warde Manuel has requested permission from Michigan State to talk to Narduzzi about the job opening in Storrs. Spartans coach Mark Dantonio confirmed the contact between the two schools Sunday night at press conference in East Lansing, Mich.
Manuel reportedly was in Atlanta Monday to interview Ball State coach Pete Lembo. Most, if not all, of the interviews will be held in Atlanta, home headquarters for Parker Executive Search Firm, which has been hired to assist UConn in the search process. The web site coachingsearch.com first reported that Manuel met with Lembo on Monday. The Hartford Courant, citing a source, said Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson is no longer being considered. Clawson reportedly has interviewed with Wake Forest. (UPDATE, Dec. 10: Clawson has been named the new head coach at Wake Forest and will be introduced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.)
Another possible candidate for the UConn job, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, won the 2012 Broyles Award. In addition to Narduzzi, the other candidates this season are: Rhett Lashlee, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks at Auburn; Philip Montgomery, offensive coordinator, Baylor; Kurt Roper , offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, Duke; and Jeremy Pruitt, defensive coordinator, Florida State.
“Pat is a very focused individual,” Dantonio told the Michigan State media Sunday night in a press conference that focused on the Spartans berth bid to the Rose Bowl. “He’ll be in Arkansas for the Broyles Award. . . . He’s gotten the notoriety, and the media coverage to be a name out there, I think, to be a tremendous head coach candidate. He’ll make a tremendous head coach.
“But at the same time, I know he’s extremely happy here, and I know our players love him and he loves our players. I went through the same thing. How do I respond to that? I’d hate to lose Pat Narduzzi, but I’m in this.”
The Spartans, who play Stanford in the Rose Bowl, ranked No. 1 in total defense (248.2 yards per game), No. 1 against the run (80.8) and fourth in scoring defense (12.7).
“When the opportunity comes and the opportunity is so good that you need to take it, then that’s when you take it,” Dantonio said. “But it’s got to be the right opportunity, and Pat understands that and weighs those things out.
“I think he’ll be a candidate on any position, any job, any head coaching job that comes available, I think he would be an extremely valuable candidate and very exciting candidate to talk to. I think he’ll be an outstanding head football coach.”
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