Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt has interviewed for a head coach opening, DuckTerritory.com has learned through multiple sources.

Leavitt this week interviewed with Texas Tech officials about becoming the Red Raiders new head coach. Texas Tech fired their head coach and former player Kliff Kingsbury on Sunday after the Red Raiders went 5-7 in 2018. He was 35-40 in six seasons as the head coach.

247Sports' Steve Wiltfong has also reported Leavitt has had discussions with Colorado about their head coaching position that is open. Kansas State's head coach position may also open up this offseason with Bill Snyder likely retiring, and Leavitt would become a target for that job as well.

247Sports Barton Simmons believes Leavitt would make a lot of sense for a college program like Texas Tech that's been historically known for their offensive firepower.

“Leavitt has had success at Oregon, where they have run an explosive offense as well,” said Simmons. “Even at Colorado, where he had success under Mike MacIntyre, that success was married up with a high-paced tempo offense. He certainly has had success as a head coach as well. It’s about finding a guy that matches that. There aren’t many of them.”

Leavitt, 61, has spent the last two seasons at Oregon as the program's defensive coordinator. Ahead of this football season, Leavitt signed a new contract that was worth 6.8 million dollars over four seasons. He currently has a $500,000 buyout should he leave the Ducks before January 31st, 2019. He also has a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave the Ducks for Kansas State's head coaching job without a buyout.

Before Oregon hired Leavitt ahead of the 2017 football season, the Ducks were one of the worst defenses in the country. Oregon allowed 41.4 points per game (126th in the country) in 2016. In Leavitt's first year the Ducks allowed just 29 points per game (81st). This season Oregon allowed 27 points per game and ranked 63rd nationally.

In 2016 Oregon's defense gave up 6.41 yards per play, the 115th worst average in the country. In 2017 the number jumped to 28th nationally at just 5.07 yards per play. In 2018 the Ducks took a step back but were a respectable 5.39 yards per play and 50th in the country.

Leavitt spent 13 years as the head coach at South Florida from 1997 to 2009. He led the Bulls to five bowl games and posted 10 winning seasons. He has a head coaching record of 95-57.

Leavitt was fired on January 8, 2010, from USF after an investigation by USF officials found he had struck a player in the locker room during a halftime game against Louisville earlier that season. Leavitt denied the accusations saying he only grabbed the player as a way to console him.

USF and Leavitt later settled a wrongful termination lawsuit.

This story will be updated