Curtis Johnson (left) and Terry Malone

The serach for a new head football coach has stretched far-and-wide. It also has been focused close to home.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said at his Wednesday press conference that Tulane requested permission to speak to some of his assistant coaches (presumably more than one). Wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson and tight ends coach Terry Malone are the names that have been mentioned previously as potential targets.

"We've got a ton of respect for Tulane and the process and we're going to help them in any way," explained Payton.

A former Payton assistant in New Orleans has become a college head coach already. Doug Marrone, now at Syracuse, was an offensive coordinator with the Saints before taking over the Orange.