Auburn’s search for a new baseball coach is making progress.

But at least one of the Tigers’ top choices has taken himself out of the running.

According to a report in the Louisville, Ky., Courier Journal, Auburn officials have had multiple conversations with Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell. But McDonnell told the newspaper he had removed himself from the running.

McDonnell said Tuesday that he had removed his name from consideration after talking with U of L athletic director Tom Jurich.

“I was flattered and I appreciated the interest,” McDonnell told the Courier-Journal. “But after a few conversations and reassessing with Tom everything that’s going on here, my family and I feels like Louisville is our home. I plan to be here for some time.”

McDonnell, who played at The Citadel, spent six seasons as an assistant at Ole Miss before taking the Louisville job in 2007. The 37-year-old coach is 88-45 in two seasons. The Cardinals made the College World Series in 2007 and qualified for an NCAA Regional in ‘08.

AU is believed to have contacted other candidates; a decision could come soon.

Among the names rumored to be on AU’s list are New Orleans’ Tom Walter, College of Charleston’s John Pawlowski, Baylor’s Steve Smith, former Florida and Mississippi State head coach Pat McMahon, Mississippi State assistant Tommy Raffo and Samford’s Casey Dunn, a former AU catcher.

Walter, 39, made this season’s NCAA Tournament; Pawlowski, 44, led C of C to a 39-20 record, but the Cougars were left out of the 64-team field.

Both coaches are considered up-and-comers in college baseball circles.

Dunn has only four years’ college coaching experience, all at Samford, but his AU ties have earned him some high-level support.

Smith, a Baylor graduate, has spent 14 years with the Bears, going 522-337-1. His wife, Melinda, is also a Baylor grad.

In an interview with the Waco (Texas) Tribune on Tuesday, Smith did not confirm any interest in Auburn.

“Baylor is a wonderful place to coach and I have every intention of being there as long as they’ll have me,” Smith told the newspaper.

McMahon, currently managing the New York Yankees’ Class A affiliate in Staten Island, N.Y., has a proven track record in the Southeastern Conference: He won an SEC regular-season title at Florida and led the Gators to a College World Series runner-up finish.

Raffo has 15 years as an SEC assistant coach. Just-retired MSU coach Ron Polk has lobbied for Raffo to replace him, but Raffo is not expected to get the job.

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