Louisville coach Scott Satterfield said again that he will stay at school after South Carolina informed him of his coach vacancy.
Satterfield told The (Louisville) Courier-Journal that he had no intention of leaving, but “had an obligation to just listen [to South Carolina] because of where you are. “
He characterized the contact with South Carolina as a conversation and not a formal job interview, which several other sources confirmed to ESPN. Satterfield on Friday attended his son’s high school game in the Kentucky state playoffs.
Louisville sporting director Vince Tyra said on Saturday in a statement that he was “disappointed” that Satterfield had spoken to South Carolina officials.
“Scott and I talked before [Saturday] and he assured me that he is advancing as our football coach, “said Tyra.” I feel as good about Scott’s skills today as I did the day we hired him.
“… As a longtime and current AD fan in Louisville, I understand the story behind our fans’ problem of trust with football coaches. Rightly so. I’m disappointed that Scott had a conversation with another program, but I am comfortable that we have a pleasant path ahead. “
The Louisville second-year coach told the Courier-Journal that he kept Tyra and others informed about the contact.
“When [South Carolina] I got in touch, told Vince that they got in touch, and told him that I wasn’t interested in talking to those guys, “Satterfield told the newspaper.” Well, they came back in a week, so I said I would hear what they had to say – and the reason is that it is a few hours away from my aging parents and I saw them once this whole year [due to COVID-19].
“… I went to listen to a conversation and that’s it. I kept Vince informed about it too. I’m not trying to hide anything from anyone. I’m not that person.”
Satterfield won the ACC Coach of the Year award in 2019, his first year in Louisville, when the team went 8-5 and won the Music City Bowl. Louisville is only 3-7 this season and next December plays 12 December against Wake Forest. Satterfield, 47, in 2018 signed a six-year contract that pays him $ 3.25 million annually and includes a purchase of $ 5 million if he had left for another job before December 31.
Satterfield on November 24 issued a statement that it had not sought or sought offers from other programs. The statement came in response to a report by The Athletic that South Carolina intended to interview him and others for his position as coach.
South Carolina fired coach Will Muschamp on November 14. The school is almost under contract, sources said, and candidates include Oklahoma assistant coach Shane Beamer, Louisiana coach Billy Napier, Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell and Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.
Beamer, son of Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer, served as a defensive assistant and recruiting coordinator in South Carolina between 2007 and 2010. He received strong support from former Gamecocks players, donors and others on the program.
ESPN’s Andrea Adelson contributed to this report.