Tuscaloosa, Ala. ? Alabama’s coaching search is in a holding pattern, with New Orleans Saints assistant coach Mike Riley reportedly mulling an offer to return to his alma mater.

Athletic director Mal Moore said Thursday he hopes to have a new coach “in the very near future.”

“We’ve made the move and we’re waiting and hoping to know something real shortly,” Moore said.

“It’s an awkward situation that we’re in that nobody anticipated, but we’re working hard to make this come out an outstanding change here with a new coach in the very near future.”

Moore indicated the school is pursuing “a couple of people” but offered the job to Riley on Wednesday, according to The Tuscaloosa News and The Birmingham News.

Riley played for Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant as a defensive back in the early 1970s.

He didn’t talk to reporters after practice on Thursday and didn’t answer calls to his cell phone. His agent, Rick Davis of West Palm Beach, Fla., didn’t return calls to his office.

“Mike would be a tremendous asset to the program,” said John Croyle, a Riley teammate for three years at Alabama.

“I just hope he and all the powers that be can work it all out.

“He’s inherited some very tough situations and done very well. I think he can carry us through the next few years of probation and beyond.”

Croyle’s son, Brodie, is expected to be the Tide’s starting quarterback as a sophomore. Brodie Croyle’s strengths lie in the drop-back passing style of the West Coast offense more so than coach Dennis Franchione’s run- and option-oriented attack.

Saints coach Jim Haslett told The Associated Press early Thursday that Riley hadn’t informed him that he’d been offered a job.

“He hasn’t said anything to me,” Haslett said.

Moore’s radio interview marked his first public comments since the search began.

“My job is to get a great coach for them (players), and I think that will happen very shortly,” Moore said.

Moore interviewed both Riley and South Florida coach Jim Leavitt on Tuesday, thought to be his only formal interviews since Franchione bolted for Texas A&M late last week.

South Florida announced Thursday that the 46-year-old Leavitt had signed a contract extension to remain with the program he built from scratch in the past six years.