Most coaches do not get a second chance to take the same position they already had turned down once.

Paul Rhoads did, and this time when Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville offered him the Tigers' defensive coordinator job, he said yes.

Rhoads was the defensive coordinator at Pitt from 2000 until yesterday when he was named the defensive coordinator at Auburn.

"Paul Rhoads has been tremendously committed to the University of Pittsburgh and our football program the past eight years," said head coach Dave Wannstedt in a statement released last night.

"I am especially appreciative of his work and dedication since my return to Pitt three years ago. I would like to thank Paul for his fine work with our defensive unit and players. Our entire program wishes Paul and his family the very best."

Rhoads, who reportedly will be paid a salary of $400,000, a significant raise from his $250,000 salary at Pitt, had been offered the same job by Tuberville in 2002 and turned it down when Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson made a strong counteroffer to keep him with the Panthers.

Rhoads declined requests for interviews through Pitt's media relations office.

With Rhoads gone, Wannstedt must turn his attention to finding a defensive coordinator, but he might wait a few weeks as he is on the road finishing the Panthers' recruiting class.

A number of names already have surfaced as legitimate candidates for the defensive coordinator job:

• Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Sal Sunseri. former Pitt player and assistant, Sunseri is an ace recruiter with deep ties in the community. He also has a son, Tino, who is a standout senior quarterback at Central Catholic who has committed to Pitt. He is popular among many alumni, Panther Club members and fans.

• Washington State defensive assistant Chris Ball. He was Pitt's secondary coach this past season but left for Washington State within the past three weeks. But he has not yet sold his house and one of his reasons for leaving was he was looking to be promoted to a coordinator spot, something that wouldn't have been possible as long as Rhoads was around.

• Connecticut defensive coordinator/inside linebacker's coach Todd Orlando. A Pittsburgh native and Central Catholic graduate, Orlando reportedly is high on Wannstedt's wish list because of his reputation as an excellent young coach. He also is known as an excellent recruiter.

• Pitt defensive line coach Greg Gattuso. A former head coach at Duquesne University, he is the architect of the resurgent defensive line. He also is the most qualified for the job in terms of experience of those on the current staff.

• Pitt special teams coach/defensive assistant Charlie Partridge. An original member of Wannstedt's staff who is known as a bright, young coach and ace recruiter. He might not have enough experience, but his recruiting ability is certainly in his favor.

• Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. Obviously a dark horse and long shot, but not nearly as far-fetched as it sounds if the circumstances were right and it included a promotion.

• Arizona defensive backs coach Teryl Austin. He played at Pitt in the mid-1980s and was interested in the job three years ago when Wannstedt was hired. He has ties in the area and was regarded as one of the best recruiters in the country as an assistant coach at Michigan, where he was responsible for pulling a number of Western Pennsylvania's top players -- such as Steve Breaston -- away from Pitt and Penn State.

• Youngstown State linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky. He is a former Panthers All-American and a former Steeler. He has plenty of ties to the Pittsburgh area and the football program.

• Carolina Panthers secondary coach Tim Lewis. A former Pitt player, who has served as the defensive coordinator for the Steelers and Giants.

• Foge Fazio. A former Pitt head coach and defensive coordinator in the late 1970s and early '80s. He retired from coaching after a successful run in the NFL but is a confidant of Wannstedt and a contributor to the Pitt pregame show and has been around the program the past two years.

Wannstedt also is very close to naming longtime NFL coach and close friend Tony Wise, who is the offensive line coach with the New York Jets, as his offensive line coach.

He also has spoken with Thomas Jefferson High School coach Bill Cherpak about the job, though it seems unlikely Cherpak would leave his current post.

The position became open in December when Wannstedt relieved Paul Dunn of his duties.