UW likely can cross Missouri coach Gary Pinkel off list

The pool of candidates for the Washington Huskies football coaching position shrank by one Friday when it was announced that Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is in the process of finalizing an extension to his contract to remain with the Tigers.

ESPN.com reported that Pinkel would get a raise to about $2.5 million a year. A university spokesman told The Associated Press the deal was being finalized but had not been completed.

And it might be getting even shallower as another potential UW target — Boise State's Chris Petersen — might also be getting a new deal. The Idaho Statesman reported Friday that early discussions had begun between the school and Petersen. Petersen has three years remaining on his current deal.

Pinkel had been considered one of the top names on UW's list because of his ties to the school. He was an assistant at UW from 1979 to 1990, serving as offensive coordinator from 1984 to 1990, all under Don James. He also played for James at Kent State. Pinkel left UW to become head coach at Toledo, taking over at Missouri in 2001.

There was some speculation that Pinkel was getting a new deal in part because of the opening at UW — it's the third straight season in which Pinkel has renegotiated his contract. He got a new deal last December that paid him a guaranteed $1.85 million through the 2012 season.

Pinkel, 56, has led Missouri to a 21-4 record the past two seasons. He was a finalist for the UW job in 1998 when the Huskies hired Rick Neuheisel.

Pinkel is the second coach this week on UW's reported wish list to apparently be pulled out of the running. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp announced earlier in the week he will become the head coach in waiting of the Longhorns.

Washington is known to have interviewed one candidate, Notre Dame offensive coordinator Michael Haywood, who was in Seattle to meet with Huskies officials on Thursday.