Updated: Winters-to-Akron rumors untrue

Rumors about Wayne State coach Paul Winters resigning to take the head coaching job at Akron -- his alma mater -- are untrue, according to the Wayne State athletic department.

Winters, who signed a five-year contract extension last offseason, has not been contacted by Akron. Under NCAA guidelines, Akron -- if interested -- has to ask permission to speak to Winters because he is under contract.

According to Akron Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations Mike Cawood, Athletic Director Tom Wistrcill refuses to comment on the coaching search until the selection is officially announced.

FootballScoop.com, along with popular message boards D2Football.com and MLive.com, had rumblings about Winters filling the Akron vacancy. The school fired coach J.D. Brookhart, who went 30-42 in six seasons.

Winters, the 19th football coach in WSU history, is the seventh all-time leading rusher in Akron history. He lettered three times, was named the 1979 Akron Offensive MVP and was named the 1980 Akron Athlete of the Year. He was inducted into the UA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. Winters also had two stints as an assistant coach; first as an offensive backfield coach for two seasons. Winters was then the running backs coach/offensive coordinator from 1994-2003.

He was named Wayne State’s head coach on Dec. 17, 2003. In six seasons, he has compiled a 27-37 record.

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