STANFORD, CALIF. (AP) - Stanford two-way star Owen Marecic is endorsing a pair of current Cardinal coaches to be considered for the vacant head coach position.
Athletic director Bob Bowlsby is still in the process of finding a replacement for Jim Harbaugh, who departed Friday for the NFL to coach the San Francisco 49ers. Bowlsby is expected to interview offensive coordinator and former Stanford receiver David Shaw and associate head coach Greg Roman for the position.
“I have tremendous respect for those coaches and I think they can do a great job,” Marecic said Monday. “Anyone on the coaching staff would do a great job leading the team and would have the respect of the program.
“Those guys, their football knowledge is second to none. They’re great men of character and they have what it takes to lead a team like this.”
Bowlsby has already met with the entire coaching staff since Harbaugh left Friday, four days after Stanford capped a 12-1 season with a 40-12 Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in Miami.
Bowlsby and university president John Hennessy have said they would like to find a coach quickly but also do the necessary work to hire the right person to fit Stanford’s unique situation. The job should be enticing with Orange Bowl MVP quarterback Andrew Luck deciding to return for another season rather than declaring for the NFL draft.
Successful Boise State coach Chris Petersen said Monday he is staying put.
Marecic, a standout fullback and linebacker who won the first Paul Hornung Award given out Monday by the Louisville Sports Commission for college football’s most versatile player, hopes one of the coaches already on staff gets a shot.
“I do hope the coaching staff remains intact,” Marecic said on a conference call for his award. “It’s a tremendous staff and they really work well together. The players here have the work ethic to be successful.”
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