U of L has it's new coach

[HaulingBull Sucks]

UPDATED: 12:47 PM

Kragthorpe to be coach; Bush headed to NFL

By Eric Crawford

ecrawford@courier-journal.com

The Courier-Journal

     

Steve Kragthorpe has agreed to become the new football coach of the University of Louisville.

A source close to the negotiation told The Courier-Journal that Kragthorpe, the coach at Tulsa, has agreed to a 5-year deal, with financial details pending approval of the personnel committee of U of L’s Athletic Board this afternoon.

U of L athletic director Tom Jurich flew to Oklahoma City to meet with Kragthorpe and the two are expected to return to Louisville later today.

Kragthorpe is expected to be introduced as coach at a Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium news conference at about 5 p.m.

Earlier update: Michael Bush going to NFL Draft

Michael Bush is headed to the NFL Draft.

"I didn't want to wait until the 15th," Bush said at a news conference. "I loved my time here at U of L, but it's time for me to move on. I think it's time for me to pursue my dreams in the NFL."

The University of Louisville running back announced his intentions on Tuesday, less than a week before the entry deadline to enter the April Draft. Bush broke his right leg in the season-opening game against the University of Kentucky and could have returned for one more season.

Bush started the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate and potentially a first-round draft pick. The hometown hero ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns before suffering the leg injury with 11:26 left in the third quarter.

Bush had not talked about the injury or his future since September, but he remained a key leader on the football squad.

During the Cardinals’ preparation for the Orange Bowl, Bush has been with the team and worked out in front of the local media at Barry University during one of the practices. He spent about 30 minutes doing agility and strength drills.

Earlier update: Kragthorpe to interview for U of L job

Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe is expected to interview for the Louisville coaching job today, and an announcement on Kragthorpe’s hiring could come as early as this afternoon.

Kragthorpe held a meeting with the Tulsa players on Tuesday morning and the school has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon.

Louisville spokesman Rocco Gasparro confirmed that athletic director Tom Jurich and Kragthorpe have spoken.

“Tom has spoken to Steve, but I can’t tell you the details on where the meeting took place,†Gasparro said Tuesday morning.

Gasparro told The Associated Press that Jurich was planning to interview Kragthorpe sometime today.

Kragthorpe is the leading candidate to replace Bobby Petrino, who resigned on Sunday to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Tulsa World is reporting that Kragthorpe will be named U of L’s coach this afternoon after speaking with Jurich Monday night and that Jurich will bring the coach to Kentucky today on a private plane.

The Louisville Athletic Association board of directors’ personnel committee has tentatively scheduled a 4 p.m. meeting to address the coaching situation. The personnel committee must approve any hire. Gasparro said it’s “unlikely†the meeting would be postponed.

Kragthorpe, 41, is 29-22 in four seasons at Tulsa with three bowl trips.

Earlier update: Bush to announce decision

While University of Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich is expected to meet with Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe in Oklahoma Tuesday morning, there’s plenty happening back at home in the wake of Bobby Petrino’s departure to become head coach of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

Cardinal running back Michael Bush has called an 11:30 a.m. news conference to announce whether he will seek an additional season at U of L or become eligible for the NFL Draft.

U of L dropped one spot in the final polls issued this morning. The Cardinals fell to No. 6 in The Associated Press poll after being jumped by Boise State, which finished the season undefeated.

That still is U of L’s highest final rating ever in the AP poll. The Cards fell one spot to No. 7 in the ESPN-USA Today coaches’ poll. The Cards were ranked below both Boise State and Wisconsin in that poll. BCS national champion Florida was No. 1 in both polls, Ohio State No. 2.

U of L assistant coaches, meanwhile, are looking at other job options or waiting to see if they might be a part of Kragthorpe’s staff if hired at U of L.

Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino met with Jurich about the Cardinals’ head coaching job yesterday but last night informed at least two recruits that he had not been offered the U of L job and planned to join his brother’s staff with the Atlanta Falcons.

Check back at www.courier-journal.com for updates.

[bullman3]

Tulsa?  I am surprised they didnt look at other coaches, Boise State?

[USFan]

Tulsa?  I am surprised they didnt look at other coaches, Boise State?

Good question... maybe they did?

[HaulingBull Sucks]

Tulsa?  I am surprised they didnt look at other coaches, Boise State?

Good question... maybe they did?

Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe was AD Tom Jurich's  first choice to replace Petrino...he has been since Petrino first arrived in Louisville.

[HaulingBull Sucks]

Kragthorpe is expected to be introduced as coach at a Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium news conference at about 4:15 p.m.

[crambone]

This may cause UL to stumble slightly.

[HaulingBull Sucks]

Kragthorpe takes over as U of L football coach

By Brian Bennett

bbennett@courier-journal.com

The Courier-Journal

Needing a new football coach to continue the program’s upward momentum, University of Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich turned to an old friend.

Jurich hired Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe on Tuesday as the school’s 20th head football coach. Kragthorpe, 41, replaced Bobby Petrino, who resigned less than 48 hours earlier to become head coach of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

Kragthorpe was introduced at a news conference at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. He agreed to a five-year deal worth a reported $1.1 million per season.

Jurich was able to fill the position quickly because of his longstanding friendship with Kragthorpe. The two worked together at Northern Arizona University, where Kragthorpe was quarterbacks coach and offensive from 1990-93. Jurich was athletic director at the school, which also is his alma mater.

Kragthorpe went 29-22 in four years at Tulsa, but that record does not reflect the building job he did at the program. The Golden Hurricane had gone 1-11 in each of the two seasons before his arrival. He took them to an 8-5 record in his first year and led them to three bowl games, including this year’s loss to Utah in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Tulsa won the Conference USA title in 2005.

[Ricky the Bull]

With all the attempts that Petrino has made to go elsewhere, you can be assured that Jurich already had a working list of replacements long before Petrino's exit.  It was probably at the point where, basically, he pulled the contract for Kragthorpe out of a folder and just added a date.

[nobullaboutit]

Sad part is that the other coaches are left holding "the bag" and doing damage control. The kids get hurt the worst. Went to that website and read what was happening and some of the recruits are wavering quite a bit.  Maybe good for us but we'll see.  I see where Busch declared himself for the draft!  Wonder what Brohm is going to do?  Should be interesting in the next few weeks.

[HaulingBull Sucks]

Tom Jurich keeps a short list of replacements for every head coach at UL....He replaced Lelo Prado very quickly.