Mack Brown denied a report issued Tuesday that he will be stepping down at Texas, though the embattled head football coach's future with the Longhorns remains swirled in uncertainty.
The website Orangebloods.com reported that Brown, whose job security has been a heavy topic of speculation over the past few months, will announce his resignation by the end of the week.
When contacted by website Horns247.com later in the day, Brown responded that he is currently on a recruiting trip and has not decided to leave his post.
"I'm in Florida recruiting," Brown said in the message. "If I had decided to step down I sure wouldn't be killing myself down here. I have not decided to step down."
Sources also told Horns247.com that the university is expected to make a decision on Brown's job status within the next 48 hours.
ESPN reported that Brown's fate will likely be tied to a meeting of the university's Board of Regents scheduled for Thursday, during which the future of Texas president Bill Powers is also to be discussed. Powers has been an ardent supporter of Brown during his eight-year tenure at the school.
According to Orangebloods.com, Brown is expected to formally resign at Texas' football banquet on Friday, with the event to serve as a celebration of his accomplishments during his 16 years with the Longhorns' program. The site indicated that Brown will coach the team in the Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl, where Texas will face Oregon in San Antonio.
Brown, who is under contract through 2020, will reportedly receive a $2.75 million buyout and be reassigned to an advisory role in the UT president's office over the remainder of his pact.
Taking over a floundering Texas program prior to the 1998 season, Brown restored the Longhorns back to national prominence by stringing together nine consecutive campaigns of double-digit wins from 2001-09. The highlight of that period came during the 2005 season, when the Longhorns capped a 13-0 performance with a victory over USC in the BCS Championship Game.
Brown also took the Longhorns to the national title game in 2009, but the program has been in decline since. Texas has gone just 30-20 over the past four seasons and finished in the national rankings in just one of those years.
Texas lost two of its first three games of this season, but rebounded to go 7-1 in Big 12 play prior to Saturday's 30-10 loss to league champion Baylor.
Brown's 158 wins at Texas are the second-most in school history, surpassed only by Hall of Famer Darrell Royal's 167.
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