Panthers coach Ron Rivera: Job interviews for Carolina assistants must wait

If someone wants to talk with a Carolina Panthers assistant about a coaching vacancy, they’ll have to wait.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said as much on Friday when asked about rumors that offensive coordinator Mike Shula was being courted for the University of Miami job.

“I think in our situation and circumstances, it’s just one of those things where it’s, hey guys you’re going to have to wait,” Rivera said. “We’re talking about where we are right now. I know Mike’s got to make his own decisions and I’d like to believe we’re going to be fine with it but right now talk is just talk.”

Newspapers in South Florida have linked Shula, a Florida native, to the job this week. But the Miami Herald reported Shula is not interested in the job.

Shula declined comment to the Observer.

Shula was the head coach at the University of Alabama, his alma mater, from 2003-2006 but could never muster the kind of success it has experienced since his departure and subsequent hiring of Nick Saban.

But Shula isn’t the only one who has drawn interest on the Panthers’ staff. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott interviewed in Washington in 2014 before the franchise hired Jay Gruden, and he was scheduled to interview with the New York Jets before that was canceled when the team hiredTodd Bowles.

Associate head coach and secondary coach Steve Wilks is also a candidate Rivera knows could be sought after at the professional and collegiate levels.

“I think there’s going to be some feelers out there about our guys, and deservedly so,” Rivera said. “When you’re having success people want to cherry-pick and that’s understandable. At the same time the one thing you’d hope is that the other people would respect your situation and do it when it’s quiet as possible.

“Work behind the scenes as opposed to in front of everybody where it becomes a distraction. Hopefully that’s going to be the case that they’re going to be professional about it and keep it quiet.”

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Panthers coach Ron Rivera: Job interviews for Carolina assistants must wait."