LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Grambling State coach Doug Williams has interviewed for the job at Kentucky.

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart met with Williams on Friday at an airport in Hebron, Ky. Barnhart is seeking a successor to Guy Morris, who resigned Dec. 9 to become the coach at Baylor.

"Mitch called me on Christmas Day,'' Williams said in a telephone interview Saturday. "That was the first time I had talked with Mitch.''

Williams, a former Super Bowl MVP as the quarterback of the Washington Redskins, has a record of 43-15 in five seasons at Grambling, where he succeeded Eddie Robinson.

A telephone message left for Barnhart was not immediately returned Saturday.

Kentucky sports information director Brooks Downing would not confirm that Barnhart met with Williams.

"He's talked to several candidates,'' Downing said Saturday before Kentucky's basketball game against Louisville. Barnhart did not attend the game.

Kentucky is the only Division I-A program currently without a coach. Barnhart said the day after Morriss resigned that he wanted to have a replacement named by Christmas.

Williams led Division I-AA Grambling to its third straight Southwestern Athletic Conference title this season. The Tigers finished 11-2.

As a player, Williams' best seasons were spent in Washington, where he played from 1986-89. He threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 victory over Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.

Williams said he wasn't looking to leave Grambling, where he played college football.

"A coach doesn't necessarily have to be looking to get a call like this,'' Williams said. "I have a job, I'm happy, but there's always a possibility.''

Williams said he has no further interviews scheduled with Barnhart.

"I think they're at a point that they're going to make a decision,'' Williams said. "They have to make a decision soon for their players.''

Downing said Saturday he didn't expect a new coach to be hired before Monday.

If hired, Williams would become the first black head coach in Southeastern Conference history.

Of the candidates who have confirmed contact from Kentucky, Williams is the only one who has not backed out.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday that former Georgia coach Jim Donnan turned down an offer from Kentucky. Donnan said he wouldn't comment on Kentucky's search because of a promise he made to Barnhart.

Mississippi coach David Cutcliffe told reporters after the Rebels' 27-23 Independence Bowl victory over Nebraska on Friday that he has no intention of leaving. Cutcliffe, once the focus of Barnhart's search, has been adamant this week that he will remain at Ole Miss.

Southern California offensive coordinator Norm Chow turned down an offer earlier this week.

Central Florida coach Mike Kruczek backed out of the search Thursday.