Tom Groeschen

tgroeschen@enquirer.com

The search for a new University of Cincinnati football coach continues, with a decision expected in the next few days.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell appears to now be among the top UC candidates. Word circulated Wednesday that UC athletic director Mike Bohn was in Columbus and had met with two unnamed OSU assistant coaches, but a source close to the situation said firmly Wednesday night that the rumor was untrue.

Behind the scenes, one scenario suggests that Fickell could become UC head coach and OSU cornerbacks coach/special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs the UC defensive coordinator.

Bohn, in a text to The Enquirer, indicated that no announcement was expected Wednesday. Other UC sources also said nothing was imminent, but the situation obviously is subject to change.

UC sources say that the school is down to “two or three serious candidates” for the job.

Bohn reportedly has been off campus the past couple of days, doing interviews and other activities related to the search. It is fairly standard practice for such interviews to be conducted off campus.

UC football search down to 2-3 candidates

Earlier this week, The Columbus Dispatch has reported that Fickell is “aggressively pursuing the UC job.” The Dispatch also said that OSU offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and Coombs are said to be possibilities. Coombs is a former Colerain High School coach and UC assistant coach. OSU defensive co-coordinator Greg Schiano also could be in the mix at UC, the Dispatch reported.

Fickell, 43, is a former Buckeyes nose guard and has been a coach for 18 years, with 16 of those at OSU. Fickell has coached for two national title teams, and was OSU interim head coach in 2011 (6-7 record) after the departure of Jim Tressel. Fickell stayed on the OSU staff when Urban Meyer arrived as head coach in 2012.

Doc: Could you handle a Buckeye as UC coach?

Other names linked to the UC job have included Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck, former Texas head coach Charlie Strong, Troy head coach Neal Brown, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, Toledo head coach Jason Candle, Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield and Youngstown State head coach Bo Pelini. Pelini is a former Nebraska head coach.

Fleck, according to a report by Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com, could be out of the running at UC. Fleck's representatives told Cincinnati officials the coach wants a Power Five job to the point he wouldn't speak to the Bearcats' hierarchy, Dodd reported. "P.J. is not in play here," a Cincinnati official said, according to Dodd.

Meantime, Power Five jobs continue to dry up. The latest move came Wednesday, when South Florida head coach Willie Taggart took the Oregon job.

As for the South Florida job, CoachingSearch.com reported that Strong and Schiano could be among names to watch.

Bohn is not commenting on specific UC candidates, but told The Enquirer earlier this week that he had talked to “10 or 12” prospective coaches and/or their representatives. Bohn said that about 30 coaches have contacted UC, both from the college and National Football League levels.

Former UC head coach Tommy Tuberville stepped down on Sunday, after four seasons and a 29-22 record. The Bearcats slipped to 4-8 this season, leading Tuberville to resign.