Mike Riley will meet today with Chancellor Albert Carnesale to talk about the UCLA football coaching job, but the New Orleans Saint assistant does not expect an imminent decision.
Considered the top candidate to replace the fired Bob Toledo, Riley said that he expects to return to New Orleans later today with the job still open.
"Nothing will happen," he said moments after his flight arrived in Los Angeles Sunday night. Of interviewing with Carnesale, Riley said: "I'm not the only guy coming in. I'm just the first guy."
Many people close to the coaching search believe that, ultimately, Riley will be the guy. UCLA began courting him last Monday, just hours after Athletic Director Dan Guerrero fired Toledo, the Bruin coach of seven years. Guerrero and assistant athletic director Bob Field flew to New Orleans last Monday evening and conducted a four-hour interview with Riley.
"I'm obviously interested in it," Riley said. "They are taking their time, and that's the smart way to handle it. [The time frame] could be short, and it could be long."
Karl Dorrell, a Denver Bronco assistant who has the backing of many former Bruin players, and Kansas City Chief assistant Greg Robinson were interviewed Saturday by Guerrero and Field.
At the conclusion of those talks, Guerrero asked Dorrell and Robinson about their availability today. They are the only candidates besides Riley believed to have been interviewed.
Washington State Coach Mike Price belatedly joined the picture for a short time. UCLA requested -- and received -- permission to interview him Friday, but by Saturday afternoon Price told his team he was not interested.
That is not the case with Riley, 49, regardless of how long it takes UCLA to make a decision.
"I'm obviously interested in it," he said.
Riley turned down a lucrative long-term offer Thursday from Alabama, his alma mater.
"That decision was made independent of this one," he said. "It had nothing to do with UCLA and what they wanted to do."
Riley's wife and two children have lived in Southern California since he was an assistant at USC from 1993-96 and currently live in Solana Beach near San Diego.
Sources said UCLA is prepared to make a contract offer to Riley worth $700,000 to $800,000, plus incentives. The deal is thought to be for six or seven years and would include a rollover clause, meaning that another year is added to the deal every year the coach is retained.
