It remains to be seen whether Mack Brown will return to the sidelines as a head coach next season... or any season for that matter.
What remains clear, however, is that the coaching itch still appears to be there. Probably.
Earlier this month, Brown’s attorney, Joe Jamail, acknowledged that his client “misses [coaching], frankly.” During a College Football Playoff luncheon Wednesday, Brown was of course asked about his coaching future. On that front, the current ESPN college football analyst left the door fairly wide open.
“I’m not going to call anybody. I’m not going to pursue any jobs,” the 63-year-old Brown said, before adding, “If somebody calls me, I’ll talk to them.”
Brown made it perfectly clear that the right fit would be of the utmost importance as it pertains to a return. That and the timing of the inquiries.
“I’m very happy with what I’m doing,” Brown began. “I talked to 10 coaches this spring and asked them their opinion of what happens when you get out of coaching. Some got back in. Some didn’t. And they all said, ‘don’t put one minute’s thought into it until December, or late November.’
“And then, if somebody calls you and it excites you, you’ll talk to them.”
Whether that describes the SMU situation is unknown.
Brown, given his ties to the state, has been seemingly connected to that vacancy ever since it came open in early September. His attorney acknowledged that the university expressed interest, even as athletic director Rick Hart said in a social media statement that “no one associated with our search has contacted him or his representatives.” There was also a report that “SMU officials have already had preliminary discussions with former Texas coach Mack Brown, floating $4 million annually over eight years;" Hart flatly stated that there “has been no offer or discussion of compensation with any potential candidates.”
When asked about SMU specifically Wednesday, Brown stated “I haven’t talking to anybody about coaching football at this point.”