Jeff Walz, skiing with his family on a Colorado vacation, confirmed to the Courier Journal on Wednesday that he's remaining on as Louisville's women's basketball coach.

"I'm here," Walz said, when asked whether he's staying at Louisville.

Walz's name had been connected to the opening at the University of Tennessee, but earlier this week he said that he had not been contacted by the school. During a radio interview on 790-WKRD, U of L's flagship station, Walz said that he has already begun preparations for next season and would not be leaving.

"I love what I do, I love it here," he said. "We are already recruiting and looking for players to add for next year. We’ll start workouts again here in about a week with our returning players. There are a lot of exciting things in front of us."

More:How much did Jeff Walz make from Louisville's NCAA Tournament run?

Walz was then asked, "Jeff Walz, still officially the U of L women's basketball coach and will be for 2019-20, correct?"

He replied, "Yes, unless you guys are hiring. Is there a spot there or what?"

Walz told the Courier Journal he hasn't "had any further talks" regarding his contract. He earns $1.475 million a year and is under contract through April 1, 2025.

Both Walz and Louisville athletic director Vince Tyra are out of the office this week, and are scheduled to meet when they return next week to talk about "everything" — including resources, recruiting, and staff, Tyra told the Courier Journal last week.

Tyra said after the Cardinals' Elite Eight game Sunday against Connecticut that it's Louisville's intention to "keep him."

"I think his intention is to coach Louisville," Tyra said. "That’s the direction of the conversation we’ve had, not about other opportunities but this opportunity that we worked on last year after the season and will continue to update. My intention is to have him as our coach for a long time, and I think his is the same."

Also:Louisville AD Vince Tyra on Jeff Walz, Tennessee: 'We intend to keep him'

Also on Wednesday, longtime Knoxville radio host Jimmy Hyams tweeted that Walz is "not likely" a candidate for the open position to replace Holly Warlick, but that a pair of former Volunteers players — Missouri State coach Kellie Harper and basketball television analyst Kara Lawson — are. Hyams added that "some sources" say that Lawson may not be interested.

Tennessee has already reached out to Harper, MSU confirmed.

Walz addressed a tweet from a Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter last week that said "Louisville is prepared to lose" Walz to Tennessee at the end of the season.

"Some guy put that on Twitter from Chattanooga, whatever that was. I have no idea where that came from. Nobody does," Walz said during the radio interview. "It’s just like anything else on social media, whatever you put on social media has to be true. So if you want something out there, just throw it out there."

The tweet fueled speculation of a possible Lady Vols-Walz partnership that has not come to fruition. Walz joked during the Elite Eight in Albany, New York that perhaps Tennessee should court Connecticut coach, Geno Auriemma.

That's where the Cardinals' season ended, with Walz one step short of returning to the Final Four. Walz has 331-100 record at Louisville and has made it to the Final Four three times.

Walz said he'll be attending the women's Final Four in Tampa Bay, Florida, to support senior Asia Durr, who'll be recognized as an All-American before she turns her attention to the WNBA draft, where Durr could be a No. 1 overall pick.