Is the ASU-Sumlin marriage closer to fruition?

By Arizona Sports
Published: November 30, 2011 @ 9:38pm
Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin reacts after Houston running back Charles Sims scored on a 72-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of an NCAA football game in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin reacts after Houston running back Charles Sims scored on a 72-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of an NCAA football game in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The search continues for Arizona State's new head football coach just two days after Dennis Erickson was relieved of his duties.

On Monday, reports circulated that ASU had indeed targeted Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin as their top candidate, and that talks had already started.

Wednesday night, Arizona Sports' Paul Calvisi tweeted the following:

Multiple sources confirm ASU has made contact w/ reps for Kevin Sumlin & they are "down the road." Ready to spend $2.5M per yr.

The real nugget there is the amount ASU is reportedly ready to spend. Erickson made $1.5 million this season. Just last week, the University of Arizona hired Rich Rodriguez as their new head coach, and he agreed to a five-year, $9.55 million contract, or about $1.9 million per season (including money from IMG and Nike).

Sumlin signed a six-year deal with Houston back in January of 2010, and his reported salary for the 2011 campaign is $1.2 million.

The 47-year-old Sumlin is in his 4th season at Houston, and has the Cougars on the doorstep of their first ever BCS bowl bid. This is the 3rd season under Sumlin's watch that the Cougars rank in the top two nationally in total offense. Led by record-setting quarterback Case Keenum, Houston ranks first in the nation in total offense (613.3 yards per game) and points (52.7 per game).

Calvisi's tweet also suggests that talks are advancing between the two sides despite Sumlin's quote earlier this week. "No one has contacted me from anywhere in the country about a coaching job anywhere. Even if they tried, at this point, I wouldn't even talk to them. We're in the middle of the season," he said.

Houston will host the Conference USA Championship Game on Saturday against Southern Mississippi.

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  • SLOW DOWN PLEASE LISA
    Jarrod P. (November 30, 2011 9:57 pm)
    North texas, Marshall, Tulsa, Utep, georgia State, SMU... Heck , I could coach this team to a 12-0 record this season. Lets see how he does against a ranked team..then lets dive into the Sumlin pool...This team went 5-7 last year against the same cr*p teams. It may be more Keenum then Sumlin. I am just saying be patient.. Jarrod
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  • Get Sumlin
    stevephoenix (November 30, 2011 10:51 pm)
    I think this would be a very good pick for Arizona State & especially AD Lisa Love in getting Kevin Sumlin. Sumlin can get ASU back to providence & make ASU a Top 25 or Top 10 team year in & year out. If this story is true & ASU are already talking to Sumlin's representatives & that they are already talking contract where there are other websites confirming the same thing then Love would have redeemed herself with this hire for sure. Sumlin would be a great pickup so lot's hope Love can pull this off & get him here to Tempe.
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  • Sumlin...
    AdamASU (November 30, 2011 11:49 pm)
    Big risk with a possible big reward. I hear ya on no record with a real conference but it sounds like this guy could be the real deal. ties with AZ and Texas??? could be sweet recruiting. no matter what it is good to see ASU being aggressive...
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  • Forget Sumlin
    Jeff321 (December 1, 2011 12:55 am)
    The same was said about Koetter that he would return ASU to greatness. Koetter's high-powered offenses were fun to watch but he never beat USC. Let's not repeat history.
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  • Wishful Thinking
    CEG10 (December 1, 2011 6:36 am)
    Let's pump the brakes! There sure are a lot of options out especially for 2.5 million + a year. Sumlin is a hot commodity, but it does worry me that he seems to be riding his prized horse. Can we possibly look at some defensive coaches that might be able to counter the power offenses that are sure to be around in the Pac 12 for many years to come How about an NFL guy? You know they can recruit, names like Mora and Del Rio get me excited. That would be huge!!!
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  • I hope not
    esc R. (December 1, 2011 7:37 am)
    Love cant find the right person to fill the HC of ASU football. No one really heard of this guy until this year. Too early and better names out there that can make a splash. go get a Defensive minded HC love. But they will screw this up.
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  • Flash in the pan (1)
    ASUband86 (December 1, 2011 8:09 am)
    (part I) I don't know if I would go head over heels for Sumlin. He has had only 4yrs as a head coach (35-16). Three of those years would be considered successful. Most would agree the competition in that conference is not as high of a level of what is found in the Pac-12 most years. He'll have Leach, Rich Rod and possibly Peterson to compete with along with what Chip Kelly, David Shaw, Lane Kiffin have continued at their respective schools. Chris Peterson? Been there, done that! Wasn't that what ASU tried with Dirk Koetter ? Though Dirk seemed to have more sucess with ASU than DE.
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  • Flash in the pan (2)
    ASUband86 (December 1, 2011 8:11 am)
    (part 2) Belotti? He will be 61yrs old, so he doesn't have the youthfulness of the other potentials. However, he does have 14yrs of PAC coaching under his belt (9 seasons of 8 wins or more). His record with Oregon was 116 and 55. I don't think he should be overlooked by Love. Martz? There were times when he was ASU's OC that he was too conservative. Very frustrating. Not sure if the level of talent was the reason for the play calling.
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  • PLEASE......NO!!!
    John R. (December 1, 2011 8:15 am)
    Forget Sumlin. The guy I'd like to see at ASU is former Cardinals head coach and current Titans linebackers coach Dave Maginnis. We need a defensive minded coach for a change. Keep the current OC on board and fix our porous defense. Coach Mac would flat out recruit and I know he could motivate these college athletes.
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  • Jeff is right on
    Steve B (December 1, 2011 8:36 am)
    The same thing was said both about Koetter and Erickson. The only up and comer that actually panned out has been Urban Meyer. How did Dan Hawkins work out at Colorado? Koetter here? Remember when the guy at Rutgers was the next big thing... what happened? Get me a coach who has proven it with a big time program.
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