Riley Rejects Alabama for a Chance With Bruins

New Orleans Saint assistant Mike Riley turned down a lucrative multiyear offer from Alabama on Friday but insists that UCLA has given him no assurances he will become the next Bruin coach.

“UCLA has not tipped its hand in any way on what it is going to do,” he said.

However, the next several moves by the Bruins are clear -- including interviewing Washington State Coach Mike Price and, perhaps, Kansas City Chief assistant Greg Robinson.

First, however, Bruin Athletic Director Dan Guerrero will interview Denver Bronco assistant Karl Dorrell today. Dorrell, 39, is a former Bruin receiver who has the support of a large alumni contingent, including Washington Coach Rick Neuheisel.

And Sunday, Riley, 49, will fly to Los Angeles after the Saints play a home game and meet with UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale. Sources at UCLA said that an offer is not necessarily forthcoming.

Former Oregon coach Rich Brooks, another potential candidate who many Bruin supporters would like to see interviewed, said Friday he has not been contacted by UCLA.

Riley said no to a reported eight-year, $12-million offer from Alabama after Crimson Tide Athletic Director Mal Moore pressed him for an answer Friday. The job was offered to Riley on Wednesday.

“I asked Alabama for some time so I could visit UCLA, and Alabama felt like it needed to get going,” Riley said. “I understand that, but it was also important for me to explore the UCLA situation, so we went in different directions.

“I want that opportunity to be a head coach again, but I’m taking my time to make sure it’s the right decision.”

Riley’s wife and two high school-age children live in Solana Beach, near San Diego, and want to remain in Southern California. If UCLA affords him the opportunity, it will be for far less money than he could have made at Alabama, his alma mater.

UCLA is expected to offer a base salary of about $700,000 with incentives that could raise the total close to close to $1 million a year. Coach Bob Toledo, who was fired Monday, had a rollover contract that allowed UCLA to buy him out for $1.3 million. There is no indication that the new coach would get a contract structured any differently.

A hurdle could be the $750,000 guaranteed Riley next year by the San Diego Chargers, whom he coached to a 14-34 record from 1999-2001. He doesn’t get the money if he takes another head coaching position and UCLA is not expected to absorb the cost.

Dorrell has no such concerns. He has never been a head coach, and many UCLA boosters laud his work the last two years with the Broncos and in the 1990s as the offensive coordinator at Colorado and Washington.

Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback and assistant, has said he is not a candidate and was not contacted by UCLA. However, he said on a Seattle radio show Friday that he and former UCLA coach Terry Donahue discussed their support for Dorrell.

“Donahue and I did talk, but not about the UCLA job,” Neuheisel said. “We were talking about Karl Dorrell and how best to get Karl an opportunity. I was hopeful he would get an interview and get a start as a head coach.”

While Guerrero is in Denver today to interview Dorrell, he could interview Robinson as well because the Chiefs visit the Broncos on Sunday. The Bruins, as of Thursday night, had not contacted Robinson, a former UCLA assistant who has the support of Chief coach and former UCLA coach Dick Vermeil. But with Guerrero apparently expanding the search beyond Riley and Dorrell, Robinson could be in the picture.

Robinson has been described as volatile, but other knowledgeable football sources believe he would be a solid choice who would command the respect of college players.

Price, of course, is a proven college coach, and that UCLA received permission to interview him will please many Bruin supporters. Washington State will play in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, and Price, 56, has never been a hotter commodity in his 14 years at the school.

He fits UCLA’s price range, making a base salary of $600,000, although incentives will increase his compensation this year to about $900,000. His record is 83-77 at Washington State and the Cougars have lost to rival Washington five years in a row.

Price also is being mentioned as a candidate at Alabama. Should UCLA go in a different direction, Riley said he would not regret spurning the Crimson Tide.

“I’m not worried at all how this goes,” he said. “I’m really interested in UCLA, and I needed to give myself a chance to be a part of that situation. This has nothing to do with negotiations of any sort, UCLA has promised me nothing and, frankly, I’m very comfortable with the way things have gone.”