University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel said Monday in a statement that he has not been contacted by the 49ers about their head coaching job, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton.

"I want to respond to the speculation that I am a candidate for the head coaching position with the San Francisco 49ers. I have not been contacted by anyone from the 49ers organization about the position," Neuheisel said in the statement.

"I want to reiterate what I have said in the past. I am the football coach at the University of Washington and I am very happy with my position and I am not interested in coaching anywhere else."

Neuheisel is not the only college coach linked to the 49ers' search.

ESPN.com has learned that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who led his team to an Orange Bowl berth last season, last week declined an invitation to interview for the 49ers job. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, according to reports, also rebuffed the 49ers' overtures.

"I have been out of town the past three days on a family vacation and had hoped when I returned today that the position with the 49ers would have been filled and this speculation that I was involved would be proven pointless," Neuheisel said. "Since that has not happened, I feel it is in the best interest of all parties to go on the record with this statement."

The 49ers informed defensive coordinators Ted Cottrell of the Jets, Jim Mora Jr. of the 49ers and Greg Blache of the Bears that they will decide who will be the next coach of the 49ers by the end of the week. Cottrell, Mora and Blache are finalists for the job. Each has been interviewed twice.

"I understand that my name has been linked to this opening because I have a relationship with Terry Donahue that dates back to my playing career at UCLA," Neuheisel said. "We talk occasionally about a number of subjects.

"I consider him both a mentor and a friend, but we have never discussed the opening with the 49ers. My only concerns at this time are to fill the one remaining opening on our staff, since we hired John Pettas (new quarterback coach) today and to go about the business of getting our team ready to face the defending national champions at Ohio State on Aug. 30."