UT interviews Richmond coach Clawson

DeBord, Loeffler also possible staff candidates

By Drew Edwards

Originally published 09:04 p.m., January 7, 2008
Updated 01:49 a.m., January 8, 2008

University of Richmond head football coach Dave Clawson is the latest candidate to interview for Tennessee's vacant offensive coordinator position, sources told the News Sentinel.

Clawson spent Monday in Knoxville interviewing with UT coach Phillip Fulmer, the third known candidate to interview for the job since David Cutcliffe left Dec. 15 to become Duke's head coach.

Other possible candidates, according to sources, are former Michigan assistants Mike DeBord, and Scott Loeffler. Loeffler interviewed with Fulmer before the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence and San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti also interviewed for the job.

Spence told reporters he'd remain at Clemson shortly before the Chick-fil-A Bowl and reaffirmed that Sunday in the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier. Also Sunday, Cal named Cignetti its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

UT also spoke with former assistant Kippy Brown, who has since been promoted from wide receivers coach to passing game coordinator by the Detroit Lions.

Clawson, 40, has been with the Spiders since 2004.

A phone call to Clawson's office went unanswered Monday evening.

Prior to joining Richmond, Clawson was the head coach for five seasons at Fordham and offensive coordinator at Villanova for three seasons. While at Villanova, he coached Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook.

In the last two seasons at Richmond, the Spiders' offense has set a school record with 8,817 total yards.

This season, Richmond finished 11-3, losing to eventual national champion Appalachian State 55-35 in the playoffs.

Richmond's rushing offense averaged 234.6 yards per game and ranked 12th in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivison (formerly Division I-AA).

The Spiders were 16th in scoring offense with an average of nearly 35 points a game, however they ranked 84th in passing offense with 170.8 yards per game.

DeBord has had two stints as Michigan's offensive coordinator/tight ends coach. Loeffler has been the Wolverines' quarterbacks coach the past five seasons.

DeBord, 51, was Michigan's offensive coordinator when the Wolverines won the 1997 national title and held the post through 1999 before taking the head coaching job at Central Michigan.

DeBord returned to Michigan in 2004 and spent the next two seasons as special teams coach and recruiting coordinator before being elevated back to offensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Mike Griffith contributed to this report.