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'Hawk' deal appears imminent[/SIZE]
But Bohn, Hawkins say 'process not complete'
By Zak Brown, Camera Sports Writer
December 15, 2005
Dan Hawkins is not yet signed, sealed and delivered as Colorado's next head football coach, but indications Wednesday were that an agreement is all but complete.
CU sources said the school hopes to introduce Hawkins as the Buffs' 23rd head coach at a Friday press conference, pending approval of the contract by CU's Board of Regents.
ESPN.com reported that Hawkins had accepted an offer from Colorado, but late Wednesday night, Buff athletic director Mike Bohn called reports that a deal had been completed slightly premature.
"Obviously, you have to have board (regents) approval before you can call the deal complete," Bohn said. "We've had discussions with Dan, and we're very encouraged.
"But we can't call the process complete."
Hawkins, meanwhile, confirmed that negotiations were continuing, but echoed Bohn's statement when he told one news service that "the process is not complete."
Hawkins was the first candidate interviewed by Bohn. Meanwhile, sources in Boise have indicated that offensive coordinator Chris Petersen will become the full-time successor to Hawkins.
"Dan Hawkins is the type of coach who represents virtually every expectation that I outlined," Bohn told a Denver television station. "If we're fortunate enough to get this completed and have Dan Hawkins announced as our coach, then we will have been very, very successful and we will be well on our way to restoring a sense of pride in the Golden Buffaloes."
Hawkins has gone 53-10 in his five years at Boise State, winning four Western Athletic Conference titles. He was a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant coach of the year award in 2004, when the program grabbed national headlines for going undefeated in the regular season and reaching a ranking as high as No. 10.
"Dan is one of those overachievers. He surprises everybody as he keeps going," said Hall of Famer Jim Sochor, Hawkins' college coach at UC-Davis. "He may look a little rough and unpolished, but he has great qualities underneath, such as family, tradition, heritage and passion for the game."
This season, the Broncos went 9-3 and won the WAC. They will play in the MPC Computers Bowl against Boston College on Dec. 28 in Boise.
Hawkins' career record is 93-21-1. He has won at every stop in his varied career. He was the head coach at Willamette University in Salem, Ore., from 1993-1997 and earned a runner-up finish in the 1997 NAIA National Championships. He was the offensive coordinator at the College of the Siskiyous from 1988-91 and won a Golden Valley Conference championship there. He is scheduled to be inducted to the Willamette hall of fame, where he is fondly remembered by several members of the school, athletic director Mark Majeski said.
The coach comes from a rich tradition of winning as well. Sochor engineered a Division II powerhouse at UC-Davis that included 18 consecutive conference titles, the longest streak in American football. Hawkins, who played fullback was on the team that went to the 1982 national championship game.
Sochor also gave Hawkins his first coaching job. Hawkins' career started in 1983 when he was the head freshman coach and varsity linebackers coach at UC-Davis.
Hawkins is one of several high-profile coaches to be in charge of the freshman team at Davis. Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti, TCU head coach Gary Patterson, former USC head coach Paul Hackett and Peterson, who will likely soon be a head coach, all held the same position.
"He has a great love for the game and has a lot of virtue. He's a family man and treats players well," Sochor said. "He treats them as men, but allows them to have fun with the game. He covers the details and they are innovative and detailed in what they do."
Hawkins is in the first year of a five-year contract worth about $2.6 million total. He earns about $525,000 annually, and Colorado is expected to offer at least double that. There was some thought that Boise State could increase Hawkins' contract again, but the coach has said numerous times that a move to another school wouldn't be based on money.
There were also some fans in Boise who have been trying to organize a rally to convince Hawkins to stay. The coach has developed a strong following of fans and is a popular member of the community.
"He is a first-class individual, he's witty and people love to listen to him talk," said Paul Peterson, a long-time coach in the Boise area and the current coach at Eagle High School. "You're getting a flat-out winner."
Hawkins has been mentioned for several other high-profile jobs because of his success in Boise. His name came up in searches at Notre Dame, Baylor, Washington and Stanford last season. His name is brought up nearly every time a job opens, whether or not there was serious consideration.
There is a $700,000 buyout clause in Hawkins' contract if he is hired after the season, and a $850,000 buyout if he's hired before it ends. That buyout could possibly be paid for by a loan or a donor.
That large buyout was in the contract because Hawkins has been such a hot commodity. But he didn't find a reason to leave, it appears, until the job at Colorado came open.
"He had chances last year, but I think you have to take the opportunities as they come," Sochor said. "I think Dan would be a good fit there and he sees himself as a good fit for Colorado."
Logan clarification
Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said Thursday that a conversation he had with Mullen High head coach Dave Logan should not have been construed as a job interview.
"I have a great deal of respect for Dave as a player, a coach and a person who knows Colorado," Bohn said. "I visited with him in reference to the program at CU to get his input and talk to him about what direction we wanted to go with the program.
"To characterize it as a job interview would not be right."
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