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Gary Barnett interested in vacant Kansas Jayhawks job

By Brandon C. Williams

Oct 4, 2014; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Nick Harwell (8) runs with the ball on a seventy-six yard punt return for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the fourth quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. The Mountaineers won 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Nick Harwell (8) runs with the ball on a seventy-six yard punt return for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the fourth quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. The Mountaineers won 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Northwestern and Colorado coach Gary Barnett could be interested in the vacant Kansas coaching job

Gary Barnett hasn’t patrolled a college football sideline in almost nine years, a stretch the now 68-year-old apparently would like to end.

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The former Northwestern and Colorado head coach has expressed his interest in the University of Kansas position, which came open after the school fired Charlie Weis September 28. Clint Bowen is currently the interim head coach for the 2-3 Jayhawks, who welcome Oklahoma State on Saturday.

“Do I have a shot? I have no idea,” Barnett told CBSSports.com.  “Who knows what they’re going to look for. It’s a natural for me in so many ways. It’s something that I would really want to do but who knows? They’ve got so many choices.”

Currently a college football radio analyst, Barnett led Northwestern to a surprise Rose Bowl bid in 1996. He went to Colorado in 1999 and guided the Buffaloes to four Big 12 title appearances and won the 2001 conference championship. His stint then imploded under the weight of recruiting sanctions and his ill-mannered response to the Katie Hnida situation, that resulted in his resignation following the 2005 regular season.

Kansas’ program has been in freefall since Mark Mangino took the program to the 2007 Orange Bowl, en route to earning the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award. Following his departure in 2009, Turner Gill and Weis have been a combined 11-42 at the helm.

“They’ve got really to take a good hard look,” Barnett said. “They’ve gone the hot young route [Turner Gill]. They’ve gone the guru route [Weis]. Who knows what they’re going to do? I can’t imagine anybody having a better résumé than I have.”

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