Willingham to return as UW football coach

Tyrone Willingham will return next season as coach of the Washington football team, the UW announced yesterday.

Athletic Director Todd Turner and Willingham spoke at the annual end-of-the-year press briefing yesterday, and UW President Mark Emmert issued a statement clarifying the coaching situation.

"I believe Tyrone Willingham has the talent, character and drive to reach the level of success we all want for our football program," Emmert said. "Everyone understands we need to be more competitive, and I am confident Tyrone will do what it takes to make that happen."

The announcement comes after speculation regarding whether or not Willingham would be fired following his third consecutive losing season. The press briefing was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed, prompting some to believe that Emmert and Turner were working on a potential buyout of Willingham's five-year contract.

Turner expressed confidence in the coach, stating that he was at the briefing to reaffirm his support of Willingham.

"We will be there," Turner said. "I'm convinced of that. Otherwise, we'd be having a different conversation today."

Turner did voice concern over the team's losing record, but said that he believes the correct strides are being taken to ensure a successful program.

"The body of work I've observed gives clear evidence that the (win-loss) record will change in the very near future," he said.

Willingham has an 11-25 record in his three seasons at Washington, and calls for his termination grow louder with every Husky loss. His contract states that if he is fired on or before Jan. 2, 2008, he is to be paid $1.5 million for each year left on his contract.

Grumblings in chat rooms and on message boards called for the coach's firing, with angry fans clamoring for former Husky and Seahawks assistant coach Jim Mora Jr. to be brought in to head the program.

Willingham said that he was never discouraged or distracted by the rumors.

"I've lived in a daily world of doubt," Willingham said. "I don't think it's a bad place. It's a great way to measure that you're always on your game."

And now that it is known that Willingham will coach the Huskies again next season, the debate turns to whether or not any staff changes will be made during the offseason. Just as strong as the calls for Willingham's job was the frustration with his assistants, most notably defensive coordinator Kent Baer.

But Willingham did not lay out any specific plans for making staff changes, maintaining that those are always decisions that are made through a "normal evaluative process" at the end of each season.

"The number one thing that we have to do right now is continue the excellent job of recruiting that we've got started," Willingham said when asked what steps needed to be taken to move the program forward at this point.

The Huskies have recently received commitments from Lakes High School standouts Kavario Middleton and Jermaine Kearse, as well as a commitment from Prosser receiver Cody Bruns.

It is perhaps this year's incoming recruiting class that played the biggest role in Emmert and Turner's decision. Scout.com ranks UW's 2008 class 18th in the nation.

Notes:

Various UW coaches and former athletes gathered at yesterday's press briefing in support of Willingham. Those on hand included men's basketball coach Lorenzo Romar and softball coach Heather Tarr. The coaches cheered and applauded at the conclusion of the briefing.

After a short statement about his feelings toward the close-knit staff, Willingham turned to those gathered and said "Thank you."

[Reach reporter Christian Caple at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]