HOUSTON - Houston Texans secondary coach Jon Hoke has emerged as an early candidate to fill the head coaching vacancy at the University of Pittsburgh, multiple sources said Tuesday.

Hoke has been contacted by the school, although no interview has been scheduled, a source said. Hoke was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Hoke, 47, turned down an offer this month to become the defensive coordinator at the University of South Carolina under his former boss Steve Spurrier. Hoke served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Florida under Spurrier from 1999 to 2001.

Hoke went to high school in Kettering, Ohio, and is friends with Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long.