Huskies

The latest news and analysis on the Montlake Dawgs.

Count FootballScoop.com as the latest to say that it is hearing that Marques Tuiasosopo may be returning to UW as quarterbacks coach, to fill one of the two openings on the offensive assistant coaching staff.

And FootballScoop.com cites “sources,” obviously implying more than one. I can say from my end there is nothing substantive enough yet from anyone on the record, and nothing from the schools. And as noted, the report says it has simply been offered, and not yet accepted.

Tuiasosopo makes $100,000 at UCLA, according to USA Today, so he’d probably get a raise at Washington — each of the coaches who have left, Joel Thomas and Jimmie Dougherty — were scheduled to make $205,000 in 2013. UW would undoubtedly offer at least a two-year contract, as it has to every assistant since Steve Sarkisian was hired in 2009, but might even go longer, as it proved willing to do for guys last year such as Justin Wilcox and  Tosh Lupoi, who each have three-year contracts (essentially, UW has shown it won’t let money be an issue).

Aside from that, obviously Tuiasosopo would be returning to his alma mater and his home — he went to Woodinville High and his family still lives in the area.

As the report suggests and as we’ve already detailed here, a Tuiasosopo return as QB coach could happen because UW could  move Eric Kiesau to receivers coach, a position he has coached often in the past, including at Cal in his most recent stint prior to coming to Washington.

And Tuiasosopo is already familiar with Sarkisian’s program having served as an assistant strength coach in 2009-10, a job in which he was allowed to do certain gameday functions such as chart plays.

He left UW for UCLA  in early 2011 for the chance to have a hands-on, on-field coaching job, first as a graduate assistant and then becoming a receivers coach this season under Jim Mora. Recall that he was hired at UW in the fall of 2009 after his playing career but after Sarkisian had filled his staff, so there weren’t any open spots on the staff at the time.

Tuiasosopo also  has extended family in the Los Angeles area and also has family ties to the school — his father, Manu, played at UCLA and Marques Tuiasosopo often said that UCLA was essentially the other school  he would  have attended if he had not gone to UW.

While at UCLA, Tuiasosopo has begun to earn a reputation as a solid recruiter as well as his on-field duties.

— In one quick other note, there are two Pac-12 bowl games today with Arizona State playing Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and Oregon State against Texas in the Alamo Bowl. The Pac-12 could use a couple of solid performances here, and I will predict it will get them. Call it, Arizona State 37, Navy 28; and Oregon State 31. Texas 21.