Texas A&M’s slow movement toward hiring a defensive coordinator appears to be tied to Jim Harbaugh.
One of the Aggies’ candidates, Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, is waiting to see whether Harbaugh takes the open Michigan head coaching job, according to a source close to the situation. If Harbaugh, currently at odds with the San Francisco 49ers, were to go back to coach his alma mater, Durkin could get reunited with his former Stanford boss.
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JOHN RAOUX
Florida defensive coordinator, D.J. Durkin (left) talks with linebacker Michael Taylor during the Gator’s 24-19 loss to Florida State in late
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Durkin has been serving as Florida’s head coach since Will Muschamp left, and can’t go anywhere until after the new year, as he’s committed to leading the Gators against East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Jan. 3.
The Aggies have been without a defensive coordinator since Mark Snyder was fired on Nov. 28, the day after A&M’s regular season ended with a home loss to LSU on Thanksgiving.
The waiting game has hurt A&M’s recruiting. Last Friday, the state’s No. 1-ranked prospect, Mesquite Poteet linebacker Malik Jefferson, chose Texas over Texas A&M in part because the Aggies do not have a coordinator. Later that day, five-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack, of Gladewater, de-committed from A&M. He announced one day later that he now was considering LSU or TCU.
Durkin, who turns 37 next month, has worked at Florida the past four years, including the last two as Muschamp’s defensive coordinator. Muschamp, the one-time Texas defensive coordinator, was let go after four seasons in Gainesville.
Before going to Florida, Durkin coached Stanford’s defensive line and special teams for Harbaugh from 2007-09.
On Tuesday, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke confirmed during a radio interview that Michigan has reached out to him, seeking permission to interview Harbaugh, a three-year starting quarterback for Michigan in the 1980s who led the Wolverines to the 1987 Rose Bowl.
Harbaugh could leave the 49ers as soon as the season ends this Sunday, against Arizona. Michigan reportedly has made Harbaugh, who enjoyed a successful stint as Stanford’s head coach before moving on to the 49ers, its top target, and some reports have said he’s been offered a contract approaching $50 million.
The Wolverines have been without a coach since firing Brady Hoake on Dec. 2. Harbaugh has refused to discuss other jobs.
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