Mariucci says he was contacted by Notre Dame, but is staying with Lions

December 4, 2004

DETROIT (AP) -- Lions coach Steve Mariucci said Saturday he was contacted by Notre Dame about its coaching vacancy but decided to stay with Detroit.

``I am absolutely 100 percent committed to the Detroit Lions and my desire to build the Lions into a winner,'' Mariucci said in a statement.

Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White, who was in Ann Arbor for Saturday's Notre Dame-Michigan men's basketball game, declined comment.

Mariucci is a former head coach at California.