Willingham to return as Washington football coach

 

SEATTLE (AP) -Tyrone Willingham will return next season as Washington’s football coach despite just 11 wins in three years.
The school confirmed the decision at Willingham’s regular end-of-year news conference Wednesday. The briefing had been delayed amid speculation university president Mark Emmert was considering whether to fire Willingham.
“I believe Tyrone Willingham has the talent, character and drive to reach the level of success we all want for our football program,” Emmert said in a statement. “He and I have discussed the need to evaluate all aspects of the program, determine what changes need to be made to strengthen it, and set in motion those changes to point the program in the right direction.”
Washington went 4-9 this season against a difficult schedule featuring six ranked opponents and nine teams that will play in bowls. Willingham, 11-25 in his three years, is the first Huskies coach with three consecutive losing seasons.
Emmert, Willingham and athletic director Todd Turner held meetings the last two days to discuss the team. Willingham declined to talk with reporters after a Tuesday night team meeting, and never wavered from the belief he would return for his fourth season.
“I believed I would be the coach,” he said.
Willingham has two years remaining on the five-year contract he signed in 2004. His contract pays him $1.4 million a year, including deferred compensation. The school would have owed the former coach at Notre Dame and Stanford $3 million had it bought out his contract before Jan. 3.
Clarifying Willingham’s status was important because this weekend is key for recruiting. All of Washington’s major prospects are due on campus for official visits.