"I haven't been contacted by XYZ University...I'm very happy here at ABC University and look forward to the future." It's a quote that you can cut and paste from the coaches handbook. The Coach may not have been directly contacted by the AD but contact is made to gauge interest between the two parties.
This backs up what Wolfpack AD Lee Fowler talked about on his TV show, Inside Wolfpack Sports...no established, big time coach in good standing with his school wants to be courted in public. You don't fly in "Mr. Coach" and have a big dinner at the favorite local steak house. In these days of information overflow, hiring a coach is much more difficult than in the past.
This is what happened with NC State and Rick Barnes of Texas. Neither party wanted this to become public knowledge. Even if it does, they can still hide behind the fact that neither has made a public comment about each other so therefore, it wasn't all true. No matter what is said in public there were "discussions" between Barnes and NC State. Congrats to the Wolfpack. If your school wasn't highly thought of by Coach Barnes, he wouldn't have given you the time of day.
Every AD has a wish list they keep in case they have to search for a coach. There's the "A" list and "B" list. There aren't many coaches on the "A" list that want to be the 2nd one contacted. That's why public statements and private thoughts are the norm in hiring a new coach. But if you're NC State give a call to whomever you want.
By the way, what's the area code for Lexington, Kentucky????
