Official, "Thanks Vols, but NO THANKS" coaching search thread...

[jadennis]

Apparently it's not over.

Louisiana Tech football coach Derek Dooley, son of legendary coach Vince Dooley, has emerged as the top candidate to replace Lane Kiffin as Tennessee's football coach, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Friday.

An announcement could be made by Tennessee officials as early as Friday. However, a source told ESPN.com that the deal is not finalized and that Houston's Kevin Sumlin remains a possibility.

Kiffin left the program Tuesday to become the coach at USC.

Dooley, in his third season at Louisiana Tech, also is the school's athletic director. He played football at Virginia and has a law degree from Georgia. He was a recruiting coordinator and an assistant coach on Nick Saban's staff at LSU.

Earlier Friday, Duke coach David Cutcliffe withdrew his name from consideration in Tennessee's search. A former offensive coordinator with the Vols, Cutcliffe had talks with Tennessee on Thursday.

According to a report on The Salt Lake Tribune's Web site, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was offered the Vols job but turned it down Thursday morning, sources told the newspaper.

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, the Longhorns' head coach-in-waiting, earlier this week turned down a lucrative offer from Tennessee, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com.

Kippy Brown, in his third stint at Tennessee, is the Vols' interim coach. Brown on Wednesday said he's been told that he also would be considered for the permanent head-coaching job.