OU's Long reportedly offered San Diego job

NORMAN - Oklahoma offensive coordinator Chuck Long flew out of town today, bound for his future.

Long and his wife, Lisa, headed to San Diego for an interview that is apparently a formality. Several sources told The Oklahoman that Long has been offered the job as San Diego State's head coach; an announcement can be made as early as Saturday.

San Diego State athletic director Jeff Schemmel, who flew into Westheimer Field aboard a Gulfstream IV jet to pick up the couple, would not confirm Long's hiring, but said "everything looks good, we're only bringing one guy in.

And he told Chuck Long "it looks like you packed for a long stay.

Long also declined comment at the airport. But the plane, owned by San Diego Padres owner John Moores, a major San Diego State booster, lifted off at 4 p.m. --- just as the Sooners' practice was beginning across town.

A source said much of the contact between Long and San Diego State was handled by Chuck Neinas, the Boulder, Colo.-based consultant who is well known for brokering deals between schools and coaches.

Last week, Long denied he had been in contact with San Diego State officials or had conversations about the vacancy. But this week, an agent with knowledge of the situation said Long had been interviewed. And a separate source also said Long had been in conversation with San Diego State about the job.

It wasn't clear whether Long would continue coaching at Oklahoma though the Sooners' trip to the Holiday Bowl.

Long will become be the fourth OU assistant under Stoops to move on to a head-coaching position. Mike Leach (1999, Texas Tech), Mark Mangino (2001, Kansas) and Mike Stoops (2003, Arizona) preceded him in making the move up.

The other three departed for their new jobs before the bowl game.

But this might be a unique situation.

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