Murphy Believes He’s No Longer in Contention for Utah Job

Cal State Fullerton’s Gene Murphy, who met with Utah’s athletic director last week to discuss the school’s vacant football coaching job, said Sunday he believes he is no longer in the running for the position.

Utah Athletic Director Chris Hill said Sunday that Murphy is “not on the very top of our list,” but that he has not yet ruled him out.

Hill met with Murphy in Denver, where Hill was attending Western Athletic Conference meetings. Hill also met with Oregon State Coach Dave Kragthorpe and Washington assistant Keith Gilbertson in Denver and has talked with Arizona assistant Ron McBride, sources said.

Hill has said he planned to fly the top candidate or candidates to Salt Lake City this week to meet with other school officials.

Murphy said he has not spoken further with Hill.

“I don’t imagine I got the job,” Murphy said.

Murphy was offered the Utah job in 1984 after the Titans’ 11-1 season, but did not accept it. The Utah job became available again Nov. 28 when Jim Fassel was fired after five years with a record of 25-32.

Murphy remains one of six finalists for the Nevada Las Vegas job, and will interview for the position Wednesday. An announcement could come as soon as Friday, UNLV officials said.