This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2004, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

LOGAN - During his long career in the Air Force, Utah State athletic director Randy Spetman flew thousands of hours in a variety of aircraft.

Maybe that's why he's so adept at staying under the radar.

Since he fired football coach Mick Dennehy with two games left in the Aggies' 3-8 season, Spetman has been quietly searching for a replacement.

While all the coaching news coming out of Utah and Brigham Young have undoubtedly helped divert attention from his efforts, it is known that Spetman has interviewed at least four candidates for the job.

The group includes Arizona State defensive coordinator Brent Guy, Arizona offensive coordinator Mike (Chico) Canales, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Kent Baer and Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads.

Two weeks ago, sources told The Tribune that Guy has emerged as a leading candidate, though he downplayed that notion Friday.

"There's nothing to comment about," he told the Arizona Republic. "I'm a candidate. There are other guys that they're going to interview and I won't know anything until the process is over."

On Arizona State's first day of preparations for an upcoming bowl appearance, Guy said he was "excited" over the possibility of returning to Utah State, where he was an assistant from 1992-94.

"It's a little tough right now," he said. "Obviously it's a sensitive situation for me and this team and these players and coaches. I don't want it to affect anything in our preparation for the bowl game."

Arizona State's fate will be determined Saturday.

If fourth-ranked Cal beats Southern Mississippi and qualifies for the Rose Bowl, the Sun Devils will play in the Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl - probably against Texas A&M.

If Southern Mississippi upsets Cal, the Golden Bears will drop into the Holiday Bowl and Arizona State will play Purdue in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

Either way, Guy doesn't want to worry too much about the Utah State job, even though he says, "I know these opportunities don't come around very often."

Baer is another candidate with previous ties to Utah State. A native of Cache Valley, he is also a former Aggie assistant.

Asked about getting the Utah State head coaching job, he said, "It's something I've always looked at, ever since I got into coaching."

Baer has taken over the preparations for Notre Dame's appearance in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 at Phoenix. Tyrone Willingham was fired on Monday and will not coach in the bowl game.

"It's something they asked me to do," Baer said. "I'm committed to do it, and we're going to do it right."

It's likely two or three of the finalists for the Utah State job will be invited for an on-campus interview in the next several days.

According to Spetman, he would like to have a new coach in place by the week before Christmas.