List of coach candidates shrinking for Huskies

Another day, another coach to scratch off the once-lengthy list of potential Washington candidates as several outlets reported Friday that Lane Kiffin will be named the new head man at Tennessee next week.

Kiffin, fired earlier this year as coach of the Oakland Raiders, was one of the earliest prominent candidates for the UW job, as he expressed interest in the position almost immediately after Tyrone Willingham was let go in late October.

Indications are, however, that Kiffin was never a serious consideration for the Huskies.

Kiffin is one of a handful of potential candidates no longer on the list, including Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, who agreed to an extension with the Tigers, and Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson, who told UW he has no interest, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

So who's left?

One source said this week that Fresno State's Pat Hill could be one of the top targets, though his prospects might not have improved with his team's 61-10 loss at Boise State Friday night. Hill is known to be interested in the job and comes highly recommended by Alabama coach Nick Saban, with whom he worked as an assistant in the NFL. UW athletic director Scott Woodward was at Louisiana State when it hired Saban.

When asked after his Bulldogs got trounced Friday whether UW had contacted him, Hill said flatly: "No."

Another source said the Huskies may still take a run at Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, whom many speculate is open to leaving the Red Raiders. One source said the Huskies made initial contact with Leach earlier this week but were told Leach would not listen until the end of his team's regular season, which ends today.

There is also speculation UW may still make a run at Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, also thought originally high on Tennessee's list.

One coach thought not to be a candidate in any way is Seahawks coach Jim Mora. Message boards remain filled with rumors that Mora-to-the-Huskies could still occur. But sources insist it won't happen.

The Associated Press contributed.