Neuheisel to return to Seattle this week

Rick Neuheisel prepares for his professional return to Seattle this week with his name looming large in the middle of UCLA's coaching search.

Some here will say he has no business in the Pac-10. Others will insist he's paid his penance and then some. Everyone around here will have an opinion, though.

Emotions about Neuheisel in these parts tend to be unambiguous as a pregnancy test. They're either positive or negative with the latter category holding a prohibitive lead in the city's exit polls by the time he was fired as Washington's coach in 2003.

Now he's the offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens, and Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times reported Neuheisel is considered the leading candidate to become the coach at UCLA, his alma mater.

He won't have to wait for a Pac-10 job to bring him back through Seattle, though. Neuheisel is headed here with the Ravens for the game Sunday against the Seahawks and this week, he stopped a couple of times to blow kisses in the direction of his former home.

"It will be fun because I have a lot of fond memories of my time in Seattle," Neuheisel told The Associated Press at Ravens headquarters in Owings Mills, Md.

In an earlier interview with KING-5 television, Neuheisel said he still roots for the Huskies, and he doesn't begrudge those who might have strong feelings after a difficult departure that included a seven-figure settlement that hangs as a footnote.

"The ending was no fun," Neuheisel told AP. "But we won a lot of games while I was there and made a lot of friends and had some very rewarding times. I don't have any ill will toward the city, nor the people, nor the school."

Polite and polished as always, Neuheisel didn't express any bitterness.

Five college football seasons have passed since Neuheisel was fired, which is one season more than his Washington tenure lasted. The school is on its second head coach since he left, two athletic directors have walked away and the football team hasn't been to a bowl game since.

Neuheisel is in his third year on the Ravens staff. He started out as the team's quarterbacks coach and this season was promoted to offensive coordinator.

The Ravens rank 25th out of 32 teams in scoring in the NFL, though head coach Brian Billick is the one who calls the plays.

Billick was asked Wednesday whether he had any qualms hiring Neuheisel in 2005 after what happened in Washington.

"No," Billick said.

Billick peppered the rest of his answer with a pair of curses to emphasize he felt the investigation into Neuheisel's violation of NCAA rules on gambling was overblown.

"I mean it was a ... basketball pool," Billick said. "Are you kidding me?"

Neuheisel bet $6,400 in NCAA tournament pools, and his participation was investigated only months after his flirtation with the San Francisco 49ers.

The school terminated Neuheisel and his coaching career stalled after his lawsuit against the UW and the NCAA was eventually settled out of court.

"Had this not come about in terms of some of the difficulties," Billick said, "I think you'd be looking at Rick Neuheisel at this level as a potential head coach in the NFL."

Instead, Neuheisel is potentially at the brink of returning to the college ranks. He underwent a second interview with UCLA, this time meeting with the school's chancellor Tuesday, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Neuheisel confirmed Wednesday to The Associated Press he had been contacted by UCLA, which seeks a replacement for Karl Dorrell. Neuheisel said as a UCLA alum he wants what the school determines to be the best choice.

"I hope that works out for him," Seahawks assistant coach Keith Gilbertson said of Neuheisel's candidacy.

Gilbertson served as Neuheisel's offensive coordinator and then as the Huskies' head coach for two seasons after his departure.

Neuheisel's current boss is the one who offered the stump speech.

"Rick has learned the college game is the thing for him," Billick said. "He's an excellent pro coach, but the enthusiasm and the affection he has ... it's better suited for the college game."

Neuheisel was Colorado's head coach for four years, where he also ran afoul of NCAA rules, before he came to Washington. Billick said Neuheisel's three years on the Ravens staff should answer any curiosity he might have as to what it would be like to coach in the NFL.

"I don't know that there's going to be the same allure as those who never stepped up here to go, 'Oh jeez, I wonder if I should go coach in the NFL?' " Billick said. "So whoever hires Rick is going to get a hell of a coach and a guy who's committed to being there."

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren gave Neuheisel his first push toward the coaching profession back in the 1980s. Neuheisel was still playing quarterback and Holmgren coached that position for the 49ers.

"He tried out with the 49ers," Holmgren said. "I was the last person who told him he should go on now, go into his life's work."

That work might resume at UCLA next season.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com