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Thomas McGaughey has only been with the Jets for less than a year but he may already be on his way out of New Jersey. The special teams coordinator confirmed to Fox 26 in Houston that he was very interested in applying for the vacant head coaching job at his alma mater following Houston's decision to fire Tony Levine:
Obviously, I'm very interested in the job," McGaughey said in an interview with FOX26 Sports. "Anytime you get a chance to come back and coach at your alma mater, and potentially be the head coach, it's a great opportunity. So I'm really excited about that opportunity if it comes about."
McGaughey played for Houston from 1991-1995 before becoming their special teamscoordinator and later their defensive backs coordinator. He left Houston to pursue his coaching career elsewhere,
The Jets rank 32nd in punt returns and 20th in kickoff returns this season. The coverage on kicks has been solid but a blocked punt against Detroit really cost the Jets. The Jets special teams has recently been given a boost with the addition of Percy Harvin and we saw how dangerous he could be on Sunday night in Minnesota as he had a couple of big returns.
It's not one of those deals where I'd be coming in trying to look for the next job," McGaughey said. "It would be huge for me and my family just to be able to be involved with the University of Houston program again."
"I've kind of seen it all," McGaughey said. "I've coached on every level. I've coached high school football.
"I've coached college football. I've coached in the NFL.. I've seen each level and the process that goes along with it. Coaching in the Super Bowl with the New York Giants. I've seen it all from the bottom to the top.
"I kind of have the tickets punched that way, but we'll see what happens."
Some people will probably question him for coming out and saying he wanted the job. It makes perfect sense for him. He's from the area, he's played and coached there and a head coaching job is the natural next step in any coaching career that's lasted over a decade. With Rex Ryan likely getting fired after the season and any new head coach wanting to bring his own coaches with him, it may be that he won't have a job with New York next year anyway.