Now it is a Story not just a blog entry:
Navy coach Paul Johnson visits SMU
02:18 PM CST on Tuesday, December 4, 2007
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
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Navy coach Paul Johnson visited the SMU campus on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the school's search for a new football coach.
No agreement has been reached. Johnson was in town to check out the situation at SMU, which has been looking for a coach for more than five weeks.
Johnson has also been linked to job openings at Georgia Tech and Duke.
An SMU spokesman declined comment.
Johnson, 50, is in demand after leading Navy to five straight bowl games. The Midshipmen were 1-20 in the two seasons before he took over.
SMU athletic director Steve Orsini has said SMU is aiming high in its search and will be willing to pay up for an experienced coach. Johnson reportedly makes $1.5 million at Navy. Former SMU coach Phil Bennett made about $500,000 a year.
Johnson, who is 45-29 in six seasons at Navy, is acquainted with Orsini and Mike Vaught, Orsini's right-hand man and the executive associate AD, through their time at Navy.
Orsini was the associate AD and treasurer at Navy in the mid-'90s, when Vaught was an assistant coach of the football team. Johnson was Navy's offensive coordinator in 1995 and '96 before going to 1-AA Georgia Southern.
Johnson is known for his triple option offense, which has resulted in Navy annually being among the nation's leaders in rushing.