Navy coach Niumatalolo interested in BYU job

Hours before his Navy team took on Army in the final game of the FBS regular season Saturday, coach Ken Niumatalolo appeared on ESPN to address his reported interest in the open coaching job at BYU.

Niumatalolo's agent, Evan Beard, told the Capital Gazette on Thursday that his client would go to Provo, Utah, on Monday to meet with BYU, which is looking for a coach after the departure of Bronco Mendenhall to Virginia.

Niumatalolo's name has been mentioned often in connection with the job since, as he is a practicing Latter-Day Saint -- which BYU has said is a requirement for its next coach -- and his son is a player for the Cougars.

And, in an unusual move, Niumatalolo did not deny having interest in the position.

"I love the Naval Academy," said Niumatalolo, who is in his eighth year as Navy coach. "I love what it stands for. But when this one opened up, it’s different. It’s just different for me."

The move might be seen as lateral, with Navy actually having the advantage of being in the American Athletic Conference as opposed to BYU being independent, but there's obviously more to the situation for the 50-year-old Niumatalolo, who has a 67-37 record with the Midshipmen after Saturday's 21-17 win vs. Army.

It isn't clear if he is the front-runner for the position, but based on his statement, it seems that Niumatalolo would be tempted by the job if it were offered.