Fact is that Stoops runs these coaching searches with a tight lip, he doesn't tell people much, not even to his assistants. He'll ask probing questions to his assistants asking there thoughts and might make comments, but won't give away his full thoughts. The comments and the probing questions is how we all came up with a list of candidates last time. But if you noticed when everything came out about Shannon Dawson being the OC, he didn't consulting anyone in the football offices, thus nobody knew he was a candidate. Its almost how you have to do anything in the offices if you want to keep things a secret because there are always people in the basketball offices and football offices that are willing to leak information.
Last time one of those comments made was that Stoops had a few candidates willing to take the job, its just that Stoops had to make up his mind. Everything indicated that was going to choose Lincoln Riley, but he didn't. I think even Matt Jones will tell you guys that Lincoln Riley didn't turn UK down.
I'm willing to bet that Stoops will run this coaching search the exact same way. He'll get feedback from his staff on what they think, but won't give them his full thoughts on it and will conduct the search himself and consult with outside people that can keep there mouths closed.