McCollum pulls out of Austin Peay football search

Mar 10, 2013 - 10:50 AM Clarksville, TN (Sports Network) - Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Andy McCollum withdrew from consideration for Austin Peay's next head football coach late Saturday, dropping the final candidates list to five.

McCollum, an Austin Peay alum, was scheduled for an on-campus interview on Monday. He has previous head coaching experience at Middle Tennessee State from 1999-2005.

The Ohio Valley Conference university is filling the vacancy created in late January when Rick Christophel stepped down after six seasons to become the tight ends coach with the Arizona Cardinals.

Central Michigan defensive backs coach Kirby Cannon and Austin Peay interim head coach and defensive coordinator Granville Eastman interviewed for the Governors' position last week.

Mike Markuson, a former offensive line coach at Wisconsin, Mississippi and Arkansas, will interview on Tuesday, followed by Navy offensive line coach Ashley Ingram on Wednesday and Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Lance Leopold on Thursday.

Austin Peay hopes to hire the new head coach before the start of the Governors' spring practice on March 18.

The new coach will inherit a team coming off a 2-9 record and a last-place finish in the OVC along with Tennessee Tech.