Willingham takes over

SEATTLE — Tyrone Willingham, introduced as the University of Washington’s new football coach Monday, vowed to return the program to its glory days.

“They know that when you say it is time for the University of Washington to return to being the dawgs, and when you talk about the dawgs in this program, that is a vicious animal. Our players are excited about that and living up to that kind of tradition.”

Athletic director Todd Turner said Willingham was the school’s No. 1 candidate all along, and that the job was never offered to anyone else. He contacted the former Notre Dame coach the day after he was fired.

“I was still stunned (by the firing),” Willingham said. “But I have a strong believe in God, which has always been a strength for me. It allows me to be amazingly positive when other people can’t envision being positive.”

Willingham, one of only three African-American head football coaches at NCAA Division I-A programs, said it was “significant” that he was given another opportunity at a major university.

“Tyrone Willingham is a great fit for the University of Washington,” Willingham continued in speaking of himself in the third person. “It has been noted that he has integrity, is straightforward, intelligent, has the best interest of the players and university at heart, has been successful, developed young people, all that says he is a great fit for this university and I would hope a great fit at any university.”

Willingham said his first order of business is filling out his staff, which likely will combine a couple of the five assistant coaches who have been shepherding the lagging recruiting effort, a few of his former assistants who are still working at Notre Dame and perhaps an outside name or two.

“I think (recruiting) has gone about as well as expected,” said Chris Tormey, who has been in charge of the effort. “Recruiting without a head coach is like going to a boxing match with one hand tied behind your back. Now that Coach Willingham is here and in place, I think you’re going to see a real enthusiasm pick up with the kids who are still available.”

Of particular interest is the status of Notre Dame offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick, who was a UW assistant from 1994-97 and, like Tormey, is from Spokane. He struggled his first two years as offensive coordinator and was demoted to quarterbacks coach.

Willingham said there were no preconditions put on whom he would hire for his staff, but he admitted that past history could be a problem for Diedrick.

“It possibly could,” he said. “I have to consider all of that.”