CINCINNATI - Former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie says he turned down the job of head football coach at Cincinnati. The Bearcats' director of athletics says the job was never offered.

''He pursued this job and he wasn't close to being offered it,'' Bob Goin, director of athletics, said Monday. ''This is a self-serving release on his part.''

Rick Minter was fired Dec. 1 after 10 seasons as the Bearcats' head coach. His teams were 53-63-1.

Davie, who is a college football analyst for ESPN, released this statement to ESPN.com.

''Because of the commitment Cincinnati is making, I have no doubt they will be successful in their effort to compete in the Big East … but I am no longer a candidate for the head coaching job.''

Goin said Davie was among six candidates whose names were forwarded to an evaluation committee, but he was adamant that no one had been offered the job. He confirmed speculation that former Nebraska coach Frank Solich was on the list, but declined to identify others.