Navy athletic officials are downplaying published reports that football coach Paul Johnson has talked with N.C. State regarding its vacant head coaching position.
Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuck said no one at N.C. State, which recently fired Chuck Amato, has contacted him in regard to speaking with Johnson, who is 37-24 in five seasons with the Midshipmen. Coincidentally, Navy?s will be in Charlotte later this month to face Boston College in the Meineke Car Care Bowl Dec. 30.
“This needs to be expected since everyone is desperate to get a good coach, and it makes sense that Paul?s name is being bandied about,” Gladchuck said.
Johnson?s name has come up repeatedly in recent weeks after a number of schools fired their coaches. Along with N.C. State, Johnson has been considered a candidate for the vacant Alabama opening, which became available following the firing of Mike Shula. However, The Mobile (Ala.) Register reported that current West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is the top candidate to take over the Crimson Tide.
Johnson, 49, a North Carolina native, was also in discussion for the North Carolina opening, which went to former University of Miami and Cleveland Browns coach Butch Davis.
“There?s nothing to it, and I haven?t had discussions with anyone,” Johnson said. “I?ve got a great job here at Navy, and I?m not planning on going anywhere. It is a positive for the players and staff, and it is flattering to be mentioned when jobs become available. But like I said, I haven?t been contacted, and I don?t deal in hypotheticals.”
Gladchuck said he has spoken with Johnson, who told him no one has contacted him regarding the N.C. State opening. At the same time, Gladchuck stressed that Johnson is welcome to stay at Navy for the rest of his coaching career should he choose to do so.
Johnson?s current contract pays him about $1.3 million annually and runs through 2012 with an automatic annual rollover clause.
“Paul can be here as long as he wants,” Gladchuck said. “He doesn?t need to go anywhere. He has one of the best jobs in the country, he receives a competitive salary and his family appears happy here. He could retire here a very happy man.
“If someone is interested in hiring Paul and they have ethical values, I would hope they would contact me about it. I?m not sure what I?m defending here. These reports just pop up on Web pages with nothing significant behind them.”
