Kansas AD Jeff Long Indirectly Denies D.J. Durkin Rumor
After the Kansas Jayhawks lost a heartbreaker to the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, a report came out from Jayhawk Slant that KU had “talked to” former Maryland coach D.J. Durkin. KU has been on a head coaching search since firing David Beaty earlier this week.
This caused a lot of animosity amongst KU fans, rightfully so, as Durkin was embarrassingly fired one day after he was reinstated following an investigation into how his program was being run at Maryland. Durkin had been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 11 following two separate investigations into the football program and five meetings and calls between the 17-member board of regents following the June 13 death of 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair from a heatstroke he suffered at a May 29 workout.
The social media outcry was immediate and fierce.
@jefflongKU Please drop all consideration of D.J. Durkin as head coach at Kansas. His name should NEVER be associated with KU. This would be an incredibly bad hire.
— Pete Logan (@peteloaf67) November 10, 2018
@mctait Please tell me Jeff Long is not talking to D.J Durkin, as is being reported by some.. that is an awful look right now. The guy just got run out at Maryland in disgrace.
— David Meredith (@DMeredith28) November 10, 2018
@jefflongKU I hope the reports of you talking to D.J. Durkin are not true
— Allen (@alyungeberg) November 10, 2018
Moments later, CBS’ Dennis Dodd reported the following:
Kansas does not have interest in DJ Durkin or Matt Ruhle.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 10, 2018
And even Jeff Long himself felt the need to take to Twitter to indirectly dispel the rumors that were floating.
KU fans, you don’t know me very well if you believe the latested speculation, I attempt to run a very confidential search and I am doing so now. The search is ongoing. Rock Chalk!!
— Jeff Long (@jefflongKU) November 10, 2018
And then, JayhawkSlant reported that Durkin was not a candidate for the coaching job. Phew. Dodged a bullet. And absolutely the right move by Long and company in Lawrence.
And in case Long needs any suggestions, here are the candidates the Heartland College Sports staff would like to see KU consider.
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