Dec 14, 2004 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Walt Harris was not guaranteed of returning as Pitt’s coach next season before he was hired by Stanford, Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long said Monday as he began searching for Harris’ successor. Harris’ status has been in doubt since Pitt chose earlier this year not to extend his contract, which runs through 2006. Many top Division I-A coaches work under five-year rollover contracts that automatically renew each year.

A late-season surge of six victories in seven games that unexpectedly earned the No. 19 Panthers (8-3) a Fiesta Bowl bid didn’t push Pitt into changing its stance, and the school allowed the Big East coach of the year to leave without making a counteroffer.

“You know what? That’s hard to say,” Long said when asked if Harris would have returned in 2005. “We were in an (evaluation) process and had not completed the process so saying any more than that would not be fair. … Coach Harris made his decision in his best interest and now he’s moved on, and we look to move on as well.”

Harris’ future was further clouded when his agent, Bob LaMonte, called on the school at midseason to give Harris a new deal or let him seek another job. LaMonte also angered Pitt’s administration by suggesting the school was not an elite program and could not win a national championship.

“I believe you have to believe you can achieve that before you ever will,” Long said, making a point of countering the agent’s remarks. “I believe we can achieve at that level and that’s the kind of coach we’ll be looking for.”

Long wants the search to end quickly, but said it would take “weeks, not days,” though it could end before the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl against No. 5 Utah – Pitt’s first New Year’s Day or later bowl game in 21 years. Harris will coach the bowl game before officially leaving, as will Florida-bound Utah coach Urban Meyer.

Long wouldn’t identify any candidates, but said he has already heard from coaches currently working in college and the NFL. Former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, a former Pitt player and assistant, is favored by many Pitt graduates, while some players want defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads promoted.

Harris is 52-43 at Pittsburgh, coaching six bowl teams in eight seasons – a major turnaround from the 12-32 record of predecessor Johnny Majors. Pitt has won 31 of its last 42.

But while Harris’ last three Pitt teams all won eight or more games, the Panthers never defeated an opponent that ended any season in the Top 15. His senior-laden 2003 team also was a disappointing 8-5, even with Heisman Trophy runnerup Larry Fitzgerald in its lineup.

Harris’ tenure was also marked by major upset losses (South Florida, 2001; Connecticut, 2004), a continual failure to win key late-season games and curious in-game coaching decisions.

Despite upgrading Pitt’s recruiting, Harris also constantly missed out on landing top local players, with quarterback Tyler Palko being one of the few exceptions. Gateway High School star Justin King, considered the nation’s best prep cornerback, recently committed to Penn State after not considering Pitt. Michigan has routinely taken top players such as Steve Breaston out of Pittsburgh.

“I think we need to do a better job locally,” Long said.

Long has never publicly criticized Harris since the AD’s hiring 18 months ago, but the two were never close. That may be one reason why Long wouldn’t describe his mood as “disappointed” upon learning Harris was leaving.

“Oh, I don’t know if disappointed would be a term I would use,” Long said. “Certainly I respect coach Harris. … Nobody can know what is best for Walt Harris, only Walt Harris knows what’s best for him, so I can’t express disappointment.”