For a change, somebody involved in the Gophers' coaching search says he's interested in the job. Of course, that's because he just lost his.
Randy Shannon, fired by Miami on Saturday night after a 23-20 loss to South Florida wrapped up a disappointing 7-5 season, told ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman (subscription required) that he's interested in Minnesota's vacant job. No confirmation yet on whether the interest is mutual, but it's at least a change from the stream of rumors of candidates turning down athletic director Joel Maturi.
Shannon fits Maturi's stated goal of an experienced coach with a record of winning, having gone 28-22 in four seasons with the Hurricanes. But of course, context is everything: At Miami, four straight seasons without even an ACC divisional title, and at least four losses every year, is considered a terrible underachievement. Miami was ranked 13th before the season began, after all.
Feldman also reports that another coach says the Gophers' search is not going well. "The problem is, with a lame-duck athletic director and an unstable power structure, the lack of job stability scares some folks," Feldman wrote. Maturi's contract is up in mid-2012, and the university is in the process of changing presidents.
