Former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt withdrew his name from consideration for the head coaching job at Pitt.

Wannstedt, a Baldwin native and a Pitt graduate, called Pitt athletic director yesterday morning to inform him of his decision. Wannstedt was considered the front-runner for the position.

But as he considered the job, the more he realized he wasn't ready to make the necessary commitment at this time and that's why he decided to pull his name from consideration. Wannstedt -- who left his job with the Dolphins earlier this year -- has two years remaining on his contract with Miami so he has no financial pressure to find a job. He didn't believe it was fair to Pitt to leave them hanging while he decides what is best for him and his family.

"Everybody knows the feeling I have for Pitt, the City of Pittsburgh, [chancellor] Mark Nordenberg and the athletic director [Jeff Long]. I just felt like at this time, I could not make a decision and they needed a decision now to take advantage of their bowl game and recruiting.

"I understand that but I just was not ready to make a decision."

Wannstedt said he wants to keep all of his options open in regardto his football career. That would include as an NFL defensive coordinator or as a broadcaster. He has worked as a color analyst on several games for Fox.

Pitt athletic director Jeff Long is pushing the pace of the search because he would like to have a coach in place before the Panthers play in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1. Outgoing coach Walt Harris, who accepted the same position at Stanford Sunday, will coach the Panthers through the Fiesta Bowl and his current staff is actively recruiting.

Long interviewed Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads for the job yesterday and is expected to meet with Oklahoma defensive coordinator Bo Pelini over the next two days. Houston Texans secondary coach Jon Hoke was reportedly a candidate but seems further down on the list and it is not clear whether he'll get an interview.

Pitt also has reportedly reached out to Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, a former Pitt quarterback, to gauge his interest in the job. Cavanaugh was a finalist for the job in 1996 when Harris was hired but turned it down because, at age 39, didn't feel like he was ready to make the commitment. Now he has eight more years of coaching experience.

One other former Pitt quarterback is clearly interested in a job once a new coach is hired. Alex Van Pelt, who is the Panthers' all-time leading passer and played for the Buffalo Bills for nine years, has contacted Long to let him know he's very interested in being a part of the new coach's staff.

"I want to be a part of it, I think I have a lot to offer," said Van Pelt, who is a color analyst for the Bills radio network but still has a house in the Pittsburgh area. "I'd love to be the quarterbacks' coach at the place I played college football. Obviously I don't have coaching experience, but I do have a lot of experience in a lot of different systems, and I've played for a lot of great offensive coaches, so I feel like this would be a great fit for me."

Another former Panthers' player, Seattle Seahawks defensive backs coach Teryl Austin, also is interested in joining a new staff, perhaps as defensive coordinator. But that may be tough given that the top three candidates are defensive coaches.