Illini offensive coordinator Locksley denies interviewing at West Virginia

12/27/2007 5:18 PM

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

CARSON, Calif. (AP) -Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley emphatically denied a report that he interviewed for West Virginia's head coaching job.

``That's crack media at it's best,'' Locksley said on Thursday. ``I don't know where the story came from.''

The Sporting News, citing sources, reported he interviewed with West Virginia on Wednesday.

Locksley is considered a top coordinator and one of the key figures in Illinois' recruiting efforts the past three seasons, but he insisted he has not had any contact with the Mountaineers. West Virginia has been looking for a coach since Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan on Dec. 16.

Asked if he's interested in the opening, Locksley said he would like to become a head coach, but ``all my energy's geared toward'' the Rose Bowl, where Illinois meets Southern California.

He did, however, say this about the West Virginia opening: ``I think it's a great opportunity, a great job being a BCS conference school that's had success. It's a great opportunity for whoever they do hire, but having not been contacted, there's no need for me to even comment on it.''

Locksley, who followed Illinois coach Ron Zook to Champaign from Florida, recently signed a contract extension through 2012.

``I'm very proud of him and what he's done,'' Zook said. ``That's going to happen when you get a guy who's done a good job ... but he hasn't talked with them. I'm sure there have been some inquiries. I'm sure they're doing their research, and they want to hire the best possible guy. Obviously, Locksley's been awfully good.''