Seattle boots Mora, courts Carroll

SEATTLE, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The Seattle Seahawks fired Coach Jim Mora Friday following a 5-11 season that ended with a four-game losing streak.

No successor was named, but the Los Angeles Times reported the Seahawks were close to reaching an agreement to replace Mora with Southern California Coach Pete Carroll. The newspaper said Seahawks officials interviewed Carroll in Los Angeles this week and were close to a deal for him to become team president and coach for five years at $7 million per year.

Mora coached Seattle for one season after the retirement of longtime Coach Mike Holmgren. Mora had been an assistant for Holmgren in 2007 and Seattle's secondary coach in 2008.

While discussing his future with the Seahawks this week, Mora told The Seattle Times "everything was under review."

The team also needs to replace former General Manager Tim Ruskell, who resigned in December after five years with the organization.

Seattle played in Super Bowl XL in 2006, losing 21-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but has been decimated by key injuries the last two seasons. The Seahawks were 4-12 in 2008 and were 5-11 in 2009 under Mora.

USC is 97-19 in nine seasons under Carroll with two national titles, seven consecutive Pacific 10 Conference championships and seven consecutive BCS appearances. Carroll has a record of 34-34 as a head coach in the NFL with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.