Updated 11:30 a.m.: Fresno State announced this morning that head coach Pat Hill is no longer a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at the University of Washington.
"I had a great visit with the people at Washington and I appreciate their consideration," Hill said in a statement. "At this time, it's in the best interest of my players and the Fresno State program that I withdraw from consideration and put my full attention on preparing for a bowl game and getting our team ready for the 2009 season."
On Wednesday evening, Rodger Carr -- father of top recruit Derek Carr -- told The Bee that Hill told Derek, a senior quarterback at Bakersfield Christian High, that he would remain as the Bulldogs football coach.
Hill had interviewed with Washington officials on Saturday.
Hill added in the statement: "I had a great visit with the leadership at the University of Washington and I have a great deal of respect for them and their vision. Because of the time frame we discussed, which is that I needed an answer by Wednesday, it's apparent that I'm not their top candidate. I felt it was in my best interest and the best interest of our team to make this decision at this time. I wish them the best of luck in their search.
"We have not met all the goals for our program at Fresno State and I'm committed to reaching those goals."
Pat Hill on Wednesday evening told his prized recruit that he is staying at Fresno State.
Roger Carr, the father of Bakersfield Christian High quarterback Derek Carr and former Fresno State star David Carr, said Hill visited Derek after practice and told him he still will be the Fresno State coach next season.
"That made Derek's day," Roger Carr said.
Hill interviewed for the University of Washington head coaching position Saturday, a day after saying he was not interested in the job.
Roger Carr said Hill didn't say whether he had pulled his name from consideration at Washington, or if he had been turned down for the job.
"I don't really know how," Roger Carr said. "He just said he was here. He said, 'I'm here.' He said he's staying in Fresno."
Hill did not reply to requests seeking comment.
Team spokesman Steve Weakland said Hill was out of town recruiting and would not return until Friday morning.
Roger Carr said Hill and Fresno State assistant Jeff Grady stopped in Bakersfield on their way to San Diego to visit a running back.
Asked if his son would honor his commitment to Fresno State should Hill leave this offseason, Carr said, "That would have been a tough decision. There were literally 72 schools that contacted us. But Derek wanted to go to Fresno State, and Pat Hill was a big part of that."
Earlier Wednesday, the Seattle Times reported on its Huskies football blog that, according to a source, Hill asked Washington officials to offer him the job by the end of the day or he would withdraw his name from consideration.
Hill made a similar move after the 2005 season, when he gave NFL teams a 10-day window to interview him.
Hill, 92-60 in 12 seasons at Fresno State, called his interview in Seattle a "great conversation."
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach interviewed in Seattle on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Seattle Times, and USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian interviewed with the Huskies on Thanksgiving, according to the L.A. Daily News.
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