[See update at bottom]
Bowling Green's late-in-the-cycle, somewhat-unexpected search for the program's next head football coach is winding toward its conclusion, numerous sources tell FootballScoop.
Seeking a replacement for Scot Loeffler following Loeffler's departure to join the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles, Bowling Green is conducting its search with the assistance of DHR Global executive search firm.
The latest?
Top Kentucky assistant coach Vince Marrow, a staple on the staffs of Mark Stoops, interviewed at length with the Bowling Green contingent earlier this week, but sources on Saturday tell FootballScoop that Marrow is withdrawing from the process for family reasons.
Elsewhere, Minnesota assistant coach Nick Monroe, UMass offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian and Oklahoma State quarterbacks coach Kevin Johns all have been deeply involved in the Bowling Green search.
During the last 24 hours, sources also indicated to FootballScoop's Zach Barnett that former Ohio State star and NFL's Tennessee Titans Pro Bowl running back Eddie George has been fully vetted by the Bowling Green search committee.
George has been head coach at FCS program Tennessee State for several seasons and just produced one of the all-time best year's in TSU history, as he led the Tigers to the FCS Playoffs where they suffered a fourth-quarter loss to host and No. 14-ranked Montana.
A Heisman Trophy recipient during his star career at Ohio State, George has guided the formerly moribund Tennessee State program to back-to-back winning seasons. The 15 wins in the past two years are the most for the Tigers since the 2012-13 seasons.
A former top NFL assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Bajakian has Power Conference experience as an offensive coordinator from stints at both the University of Tennessee and Cincinnati. He was hired earlier this year as the new offensive coordinator at UMass.
The 49-year-old Johns, an Ohio native, has been an offensive coordinator at Indiana, Northwestern and Duke, as well as serving that role in an interim basis last fall for Oklahoma before being hired earlier this year at Oklahoma State to coach quarterbacks for veteran Pokes leader Mike Gundy.
Monroe, a Minnesota native who's served as the Golden Gophers co-defensive coordinator, has been a deep candidate in the process because of both his coaching experiences at Minnesota, Syracuse and Colgate, among others, but also because he previously served six seasons on staff at Bowling Green from 2010-15.
Bowling Green is coming off an 7-6 2024 campaign featuring a trip to the 68 Ventures Bowl.
The Falcons, who are scheduled to open their 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, against visiting FCS program Lafayette before traveling to in-state foe and Big 12 member Cincinnati a week later, are seeking to conclude this search perhaps as soon as this weekend.
Bowling Green still needs to host its spring practice. The final NCAA Transfer Portal window for this academic year opens next month, when transfers can enter the Portal from April 16-25.
Sunday AM Update> Sources tell FootballScoop Bowling Green has reached an agreement with Eddie George to become their new head coach.