Jeff Tedford

Former Cal coach Jeff Tedford's agent says Tedford believers Oregon State can rival Oregon.

(Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)

Former California coach Jeff Tedford is excited about the potential of the Oregon State football program, his agent said Saturday.

"Jeff thinks it's a destination job," Tim Younger said. "He wouldn't go to Oregon State to look to go somewhere else. He would go to Oregon State to rival Oregon."

It's not known if the interest is reciprocal.

OSU is looking for a head coach to replace Mike Riley, who left Thursday for Nebraska.

Riley coached the Beavers for 14 seasons. He had a record of 93-80 at OSU, where he was the winningest coach in school history.

Among the candidates who have been mentioned as possible replacements are Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin, Utah State coach Matt Wells, former SMU and Hawaii coach June Jones and BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Other candidates who would seem attractive include former Michigan coach Brady Hoke, Wyoming coach Craig Bohl, USC defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and Washington offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith.

Of that group, only Tedford has Pac-12 head-coaching experience.

Tedford took a medical leave from his job as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just prior to the start of this season after undergoing a heart procedure. He parted ways with the Bucs this week.

Younger said Tedford is healthy now, but felt it was best for the Bucs that he step aside since he had missed so much of the season.

"Jeff's heart is in college football," Younger said.

Tedford, 53, was head coach at California from 2002-2012. While there he helped develop current Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Tedford was 82-57 at Cal, posting a 10-2 season in 2004 and a 10-3 season in 2006. His five bowl wins are the most in school history.

Cal fired him in 2012 after the Bears went 3-9 and the football program's graduation rate dropped.

Before coming to Cal, Tedford was Oregon's offensive coordinator, and while there groomed quarterback Joey Harrington. He also was offensive coordinator at Fresno State, where he developed future NFL quarterbacks Trent Dilfer and David Carr.

"He still has roots in Oregon and recruiting roots up there," Younger said. "He's a guy who has the ability to get the community behind him and raise some money.

"He knows he wouldn't be starting from the ground up at Oregon State. There is a foundation."

-- Ken Goe | @KenGoe