Update, 12:17 p.m.: ESPN is now reportingUniversity of Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has accepted the USC job.
Original post: Boise State University’s head football coach appears to be staying put. ESPN reportedMonday morning that Chris Petersen has withdrawn his name from consideration at the University of Southern California after “mutual interest."
On Sunday night, ESPN reporter Joe Schad tweeted that Petersen and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin were the leading candidates for the Trojans’ opening. USC firedhead coach Lane Kiffin in late September. An assistant has served as interim head coach since then.
Petersen is in his eighth season as the Broncos’ head coach. He’s been a repeated target of other programs during their offseason coaching searches. All together, Petersen makes more than $2 million and is Idaho’s highest paid public employee. His current contract runs through the end of 2018.
ESPN cites an unnamed source in reporting Petersen had shown interest in the position.
Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin’s name had also been linked to the USC job. But he agreed over the weekend to a new six-year contract extension that will reportedly pay him $5 million per year.
Boise State athletic department spokesman Max Corbett says the university is not planning any similar announcements regarding Petersen's contract.
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