After two weeks of research and a whirlwind series of interviews, the University of Massachuetts is focusing on making Notre Dame offensive coordinator Charley Molnar as it's next football coach.
Molnar's first candidacy was first reported by the Hampshire Gazette, but sources familiar with the search process said that UMass athletic director John McCutcheon met with Molnar over the weekend in Pittsburgh and had such a favorable reaction that Molnar moved to the top of the wish list as the replacement for Kevin Morris, who was fired two weeks ago.
UMass officials were doing some final vetting and barring any complications, Molnar could be in place as the Minutemen's next coach by the end of the week, with a potential press conference being held in Foxbough, which will be the home for Minutemen games for the next few years as they make the transition from the FCS to the FBS level as members of the Mid-American Conference.
Molnar is 1984 graduate of Lock Haven College and has worked as Brian Kelly's offensive coordinator at Notre Dame for the past few years. He also worked with Kelly ast Central Michigan, as well as makinig stops at Eastern Michigan and Eastern Illinois, Kent State and Illinois State.
It is Molnar's familiariy with the MAC which was also drew the attention of McCutcheon who wanted someone with an offensive inclicnation as UMass makes the transition.
Molnar's duties at Notre Dame may be a bit misleading, however. Although he is the offensive coordinaor Kelly runs most of the offense scheme and Molnar's duties are more in a teaching aspect.
But with 28 years of coaching experience and experience in guding quarterbacks in their development, Molnar's experience is viewed as a major asset for a progam which will be undergoing some major changes in the next few seasons.