It was a preference for the National Football League over collegefootball that was the deciding factor in Mike Shanahan turning downan opportunity to head the University of Kentucky program, athleticsdirector C.M. Newton said Sunday.
Newton said Shanahan, an assistant coach with the DenverBroncos, informed him of the decision late Saturday after Denver's37-0 victory over Phoenix.
"He emphasized it was a career decision," Newton said. "TheKentucky job was the only college job he would consider, but itboiled down to whether he wanted to return to college football orremain in professional football.
"I regretted the decision but respected it. He's been ourchoice pretty much from the beginning of the process. He's anoutstanding person and football coach."
Shanahan said at a Denver news conference Sunday he took lastweek to sit down with his wife and figure out which direction hewanted to head.
"It was a tough decision," Shanahan said. "Kentucky's a greatuniversity, but I'm really happy to be here with the Denver Broncos.
"It was best for me and my future just to stay right here."
The UK Athletics Board had scheduled a meeting for 3 p.m.Sunday, but it was canceled after Shanahan's decision to stay inDenver.
Shanahan, fired this season as coach of the Los Angeles Raiders,had toured the Kentucky campus last weekend.
Newton said he first contacted Shanahan about the job shortlyafter Claiborne retired Nov. 28. "I thought we had a 50-50 chance fora deal," Newton said. "I thought that from the beginning. He's a hotcommodity in the professional ranks."
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