Bill and Kaye Cowher apparently have bought a $2.5 million house in Raleigh, N.C., and it has prompted the kind of speculation that real-estate agents would love, only this is going on in the news media.

Kaye Cowher would not confirm the purchase to the News & Observer in Raleigh, but the paper quoted her recently saying that the family plans to live eventually in Raleigh. Steelers coach Bill Cowher has talked in recent years about ultimately retiring to that state, where the family also owns a beach house on Bald Head Island. He and his wife attended North Carolina State, Kaye is a native of North Carolina and they have many family and friends in the area.

The paper reported that a trust managed by Cowher's sports agency purchased a newly built, $2.5 million home in an upscale neighborhood in North Raleigh. The MLL Revocable Trust is managed by a vice president for Octagon Financial Services, Frank Zecca, the paper said. The house is 7,400 square feet and includes 1.55 acres a swimming pool and four-car garage.

Cowher, through a Steelers spokesman, declined comment yesterday on the purchase, and his agent, Octagon's Phil de Picciotto, said only that he couldn't comment.

Cowher has two seasons left on his contract, and talks are expected to begin soon on an extension with the Steelers.

The purchase of the home merely could be a step in planning for his eventual retirement, but it did not stop speculation that it was otherwise.

Recent talk-show gossip had Cowher retiring after his first Super Bowl victory. WTAE-TV reported yesterday that Cowher "may move his family in and commute to Pittsburgh from North Carolina next season."

That, of course, would be a long commute, the longest any NFL coach has made.

The Cowhers have three daughters who all play basketball. Meagan is a sophomore at Princeton. Lauren is a senior at Fox Chapel High School, and Lindsay is a freshman there. Cowher has said he would like to keep coaching at least until Lauren graduates.