BLACKSBURG -- So the rumors were half true. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster confirmed Saturday that South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier pursued him this week and offered him the chance to lead the Gamecocks' defense.

As for Internet reports Thursday that Foster was on the verge accepting, he said has politely declined and will remain as the Hokies' coordinator.

"I'm staying here," Foster said after Saturday's practice in preparation for Tech's Jan. 3 meeting with Kansas in the Orange Bowl. "It's flattering ... but I've got a great job here and I work for the best head coach in the country. I'm proud of what we've accomplished here. But as good as it's been, I think we can continue to get better."

This latest offer marks the second time Spurrier has tried to lure Foster from Blacksburg. When he was the head coach at Florida, Spurrier offered Foster the same position.

This time, Spurrier apparently sweetened the pot with discussions of a contract that would've made Foster one of the highest-paid coordinators in the country. Foster wouldn't discuss numbers, "but the contract was going to be a nice one."

He currently makes about $250,000 annually at Tech, but Foster said that on Friday Hokies head coach Frank Beamer and athletic director Jim Weaver "stepped up to the plate," and a raise is likely to be coming his way.

With that assurance, Foster told both of his bosses that he's staying and called Spurrier to turn him down again.

"He said, 'Bud, I appreciate it. I didn't think I was going to get you anyway. You don't need to make a lateral move, but I was going to throw it out there and see.' "

Foster has said several times in the past that he wouldn't leave Tech for another coordinator's job. He repeated Saturday that it would take a head coaching opportunity at a competitive BCS conference school to pull him away from Beamer, who coached Foster at Murray State and brought him to Blacksburg as an assistant.

Foster admitted, though, that he has wondered recently: "Do I need to take another job to be a head coach, to spread my roots a little bit?" But he came to the conclusion that he's not willing to take any steps backward to move forward.

Thus, he didn't pursue vacancies at Northern Illinois or Duke in the past month.

"I like competing at the highest level," Foster said. "I feel like I'm ready whenever that opportunity comes along."

It's baffling to some, including his players, that Foster hasn't gotten that chance yet. Foster is a four-time finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach.

He won the award last season after his defense led the nation in total defense for the second straight year. This season, the Hokies rank in the top five in the country in run defense, total defense and scoring defense.

"It would be a big loss if he left," linebacker Cam Martin said. "I'm glad he's staying. He's a great coach."

Foster said Saturday that he had unsuccessfully pursued the recent head-coaching vacancies at Arkansas and Georgia Tech.

He joked that unless Michigan calls with an offer for its opening, he plans to be back with Tech next season.

Foster's agent, Bob Lattinville, presented an interesting possibility Saturday.

Lattinville said that while Michigan isn't interested, things could "get interesting" if West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez left to fill the Wolverines' opening.

"West Virginia is a program Bud is very familiar with," Lattinville said. "If Rodriguez left, I think they might be interested in him, and I'm sure Bud would have some interest."

So Foster is staying put. For now.