New Haven native Pat Narduzzi has turned down an offer to become UConn’s head coach according to a report by the www.footallscoop.com site.

Narduzzi confirmed the report with a statement issued by Michigan State.

"After consideration, I have withdrawn from the search, and I'm devoting my full attention to our players and team in preparation for our Rose Bowl game. Go Spartans!"

According to the report, UConn director of athletics Warde Manuel offered the job at Narduzzi on Wednesday morning and while the financial deal to become the head coach was “aggressive, it was not as robust (for assistant coaches) as was hoped for.”

Narduzzi, the defensive coordinator at Michigan State and winner of the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach, met with Manuel in Atlanta earlier this week.

I've heard from multiple people that Narduzzi wanted to coach in the Rose Bowl even if he took a head coaching job. While I am not ready to report that he made a condition that UConn simply couldn't live with, it is something to consider.

UConn is known to have interviewed Ball State head coach Pete Lembo and T.J. Weist, who has served as UConn’s interim coach since Paul Pasqualoni was fired following an 0-4 start. There have been reports that Towson head coach Rob Ambrose, a former UConn offensive coordinator, has also been interviewed for the position. Narduzzi is the latest name attached to the search out of the running as Dave Clawson left Bowling Green to take over at Wake Forst and former UConn offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead signed an extension through the 2021 season to remain the head coach at Fordham.

The coachingsearch.com site is reporting that UConn has made an offer to a candidate and it is not Lembo.