Former Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino conducted his first newspaper interview since losing his job after the 2009 season.

“It was tough on us all, but especially on my wife and daughter,” Mangino told the New Castle (Pa.) News of his final weeks on the job. “You try to protect your family the best you can because it was me that people were targeting, yet they had to bear the brunt of a lot of it. They didn’t sign on for this, I did. The cruelty at times was really unfair to them.”

KU bought out Mangino’s contract for $3 million, an agreement that included a clause barring Mangino from making critical comments.

“But I don’t choose to go that route anyway,” Mangino told the New Castle Times. “When I look back on my time at Kansas, I want to remember the positive, not dwell on the negative. I’m very proud of my time there.”

Mangino said he would like to coach again.