Coach Ken Niumatalolo returned to the Navy football offices on Saturday following an unexpected two-day absence and apparently shed no light on whether he plans to pursue the vacancy at the University of Arizona.

Niumatalolo returned to the office on the third floor of Ricketts Hall on Saturday morning and quickly convened a coaches-only meeting, sources said. Navy is hosting a large number of recruits this weekend and Niumatalolo was “fully engaged” in all the various activities, athletic director Chet Gladchuk said.

One source said assistants emerged from the morning meeting unclear about Niumatalolo’s intentions. Niumatalolo reportedly acknowledged he was considering the Arizona offer, but “had some things to work through.”

Gladchuk met privately with Niumatalolo toward the end of the day and indicated the 10th-year head coach had not made a decision one way or the other.

Gladchuk responded to a text message from asking how his meeting with Niumatalolo went by stating the coach was “thinking it through on all fronts. We will have a clearer picture over the next 24 hours.”

Niumatalolo responded on Saturday afternoon to a text seeking comment from the Baltimore Sun Media Group, but said nothing of substance.

It appears a final decision may not be made until Monday. Niumatalolo is a devout Mormon and does not work on Sundays. The 52-year-old is also unlikely to want attention drawn away from today’s Army-Navy basketball doubleheader.

Niumatalolo did not show up to work at Ricketts Hall on Thursday and Friday as originally scheduled and did not inform staff members of his whereabouts. According to multiple published reports, Niumatalolo was in Tucson meeting with University of Arizona officials about the Pacific-12 Conference school’s coaching opening.

The Arizona Daily Star reported on Friday afternoon that Niumatalolo had been offered the job by athletic director Dave Heeke. Former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch is reportedly another top candidate for the position. Many returning Arizona players support defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, who is currently serving as interim coach and has confirmed interviewing for the job.

Arizona is in the process of replacing Rich Rodriguez, who was fired on Jan. 2 after six seasons amid allegations by a former administrative assistant that he created a hostile work environment and sexually harassed her. In a letter to University of Arizona students, faculty and staff, Heeke and president Robert C. Robbins expressed concern about the “direction and climate” of the football program.

bwagner@capgaznews.com

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