| Updated: 1/10/2011 5:22 pm |
Published: 1/10/2011 10:47 am
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TULSA, OK -- FOX23 Sports Director Steve Layman has heard from multiple sources that Tulsa Coach Todd Graham is expected to take the head coaching job at Pitt.
Update: 3:30pm (Deal is "Done")
The deal is done. Todd Graham has accepted the Pitt coaching job, per sources close to the TU coach.
Graham is at home and expected to head to Pittsburgh later this evening.
A private plane has left Pittsburgh and, according to Flightaware.com, is expected to land at Tulsa International Airport at 4:59 CST.
According to sources in Pittsburgh, the deal is for 5 years and almost $10 million. That would be a significant raise over the $1.3 Million that Graham makes at TU. He also seemed to have success securing a larger pool of money for assistant hires.
Graham has been in contact with his assitants this afternoon and has informed them of his intentions to leave. When asked about the status of Graham's discussions with Pitt, one assistant texted "done".
A conference call between Graham and TU assistants for this afternoon will not take place. Graham told assistants he will speak with them all individially.
Sources close to the TU program believe Graham will take Defensive Coordinator Keith Patterson with him to Pitt.
Also, it is believed that former offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who was hired Sunday night for the same position at Clemson, will be a top candidate to replace Graham as TU head coach.
Update: 2:30pm
The TU football team will have a meeting this afternoon at 3:30pm to discuss strength and conditioning for the spring semester. It is not known whether or not Graham will be present.
Sources confirm that Pitt has extended an offer to Graham and set a deadline of Monday night for a decision. Graham has asked for more money and the two sides continue to negotiate, but could be close to reaching a deal.
Meanwhile, TU officials are trying to put together a deal that would keep Graham at Tulsa. Graham has been in Tulsa on Monday. It is not known whether or not he has met with AD Bubba Cunningham or others.
Sources also say that Graham is interested in the vacant coaching position at Stanford.
All of TU's assistants are at the Coaches Convention in Dallas. Graham will hold conference call with them some time this afternoon to inform them of his decision.
As one source told FOX23 Analyst Kenyatta Wright Monday morning, I think Graham to Pitt is "a done deal."
The last hope for TU is the fact that Graham's wife, Penni, loves Tulsa and may not want to go. And TU gets to make a counter offer to keep Graham.
Tune into FOX23 News at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. for the latest details on this developing story.
