More names continue to float into the Pitt football coaching discussion and now the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Paul Zeise is reporting that former Pitt player Teryl Austin has emerged in the race to take over the Panthers' job. Austin worked with Florida this past season as defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer. Zeise says Pitt's interest in him is growing.
Austin is a tremendous recruiter - remember when Michigan was kicking Pitt's butt in Western Pennsylvania for guys like Steve Breaston? Well, that was Austin, who is from Sharon, Pennsylvania -- and is considered one of the bright, young coaches from the assistant coaching ranks. His name has been linked to several other jobs and because of his Pitt ties his name has been thrown about in the rumor mill but this is what I've learned in the past few hours:
I've confirmed he is now a legitimate candidate and not just a guy on a wish list because he is a Pitt guy.
If Austin has been or will be interviewed, he'll join the group of Alabama's Sal Sunseri, Penn State's Tom Bradley and Wisconsin's Paul Chryst rumor that has interviewed for the Pitt job.