Teaff Decides to Remain at Baylor, Won’t Be Candidate for Job at USC

Baylor football Coach Grant Teaff, reportedly a contender to replace Ted Tollner at USC, said Wednesday that he has asked that his name be withdrawn from consideration.

Teaff, who met with USC Athletic Director Mike McGee in Dallas recently to discuss the coaching vacancy, said at an afternoon news conference that he had called McGee to say he is no longer interested in the job.

“I appreciate their consideration of me,” Teaff said. “But after deep, prayerful consideration of all aspects, I feel the place for me at this time is at Baylor University.

“The success and stability we’ve achieved at Baylor have been worked for long and hard. I’m deeply committed to Baylor. I care for it deeply. I hope to continue to contribute to the ideal of Christian education here and across America.”

Teaff, who will coach Baylor (8-3) in the Bluebonnet Bowl Dec. 31 at Houston, said his announcement was made in part to dispel speculation as the Bears prepare for recruiting.

“I’ve had very many opportunities to move to other schools,” he said. “I’ve come to grips with the different offers in various ways. This is the first situation where I truly opened up my heart and mind and took a strong consideration. I went back and forth wildly over the last few days.”

“I based my decision on what was important to me. . . . The financial opportunities and a chance at winning a national championship were not a consideration. I strive to do the Lord’s will in my life, whatever that is.”

Teaff is completing his 15th year at Baylor, where he has a record of 89-76-5.

A source close to Baylor said that McGee had been prepared to come to Waco today with a delegation of USC-connected people to work out the details of a contract with Teaff.

McGee, however, denied that there was any plan to meet with Teaff in Waco, although he said that another meeting at an undetermined date had been scheduled for Los Angeles.

“We’re still in the first stage of the process and we’re developing the (coaching) pool that expanded by one today,” he said, adding that he anticipates that it will be narrowed down in the near future. McGee has said that USC will not name its new coach until early January.

Meanwhile, Ron Turner, offensive coordinator at USC, was named offensive coordinator and assistant coach at Kansas.

Kansas head Coach Bob Valesente said Turner, 33, would take over as quarterback and wide receiver coach, replacing Robert Ford, who resigned to take a similar position at Texas Tech.

Turner has been at USC for two years. He will take over his new duties immediately after USC’s game with Auburn in the Florida Citrus Bowl New Year’s Day.