Report: USC denying interview requests for new OC Kliff Kingsbury

The Arizona Cardinals coaching search has primarily focused on five candidates, with four expected to interview by the end of the week. The fifth candidate, USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has been somewhat of a wild card.

John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station first reported on Friday that Kingsbury had not interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job, despite reports that he already had.

On Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that USC had denied requests by the Cardinals and the New York Jets to interview the 39-year-old offensive coordinator.

Schefter went on to say that during last month’s owner meetings in Dallas, league officials reiterated an old rule that NFL teams would have to request permission from school athletic directors to interview college coaches.

The penalty for skipping that part of the process could result in a loss of draft picks.

Kingsbury was most recently the head coach of Texas Tech, but was fired after leading the team to a 5-7 record in 2018. In six seasons as the Red Raiders head coach, Kingsbury had just two winning seasons and never finished with a winning record in Big 12 conference games.

Kingsbury has coached quarterbacks with NFL experience during his time in college, including Case Keenum and Johnny Manziel as an assistant coach with Houston and Texas A&M.

At Texas Tech, Kingsbury coached Patrick Mahomes and briefly coached Baker Mayfield before the latter transferred to Oklahoma to end his college career.

As a player at Texas Tech, Kingsbury was coached by Mike Leach who now coaches Washington State and was suggested by 98.7 FM Arizona Sports’ Dan Bickley as someone the Cardinals should consider for their vacant position.

The other four candidates that have been linked to the Cardinals are Adam Gase, Jim Caldwell, Dan Campbell and Zac Taylor.

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