FAYETTEVILLE — Another potential candidate apparently has fallen off the radar in the Arkansas coaching search.

It appears Arkansas made initial inquiries about the availability of Atlanta Falcons Coach Bobby Petrino, but a source familiar with the search process said Petrino intends to remain with Atlanta, which played Monday against the New Orleans Saints.

Last week, Petrino, who led Louisville to a 41-9 record and a Bowl Championship Series bowl victory in four seasons ( 2003-2006 ), told Atlanta media “my plans are to be back with the Falcons.”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank said before Monday’s game that he spoke to Petrino earlier in the day and Petrino repeated to him that he will be back in Atlanta next season.

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Petrino is in the first year of a five-year contract that is worth $ 24. 5 million. Petrino also apparently has a prohibitive buyout, though the figure has not been released.

The Arkansas search, which is being conducted by incoming Athletic Director Jeff Long with newly acquired assistance by Chuck Neinas of Neinas Sports Services of Boulder, Colo., enters its 16 th day today.

A source familiar with the search said the university would like to announce the replacement for Houston Nutt by the end of the week. Nutt resigned Nov. 26, after 10 seasons as Arkansas’ coach, and was hired by Ole Miss.

Sources close to the Arkansas search said the list of top candidates could include Oakland Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin, Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Arkansas interim head coach Reggie Herring and East Carolina Coach Skip Holtz.

If the Razorbacks decide to pursue coordinators, there likely would be a lengthy list of candidates with interest, including Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables, LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen and Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow.

Muschamp and Venables are considered rising stars in the coaching ranks.

Muschamp, 36, is a native of Rome, Ga., and a Georgia graduate with eight years of coaching experience in the SEC. He coordinated the No. 1-ranked defense at LSU in 2003, the year the Tigers won the BCS national championship.

His current defense at Auburn ranks No. 6 nationally in scoring and against the pass and No. 8 in the country in total defense, allowing 298. 3 yards per game. Auburn held Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, to a season-low 43 yards on 17 carries.

Venables, who will turn 37 next Tuesday, has been with Bob Stoops at Oklahoma since 1999. A native of Salina, Kan., Venables was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach, in 2006.

The Oklahoma defense, with Venables either coordinating or co-coordinating, has finished no lower than No. 16 in total defense the past six seasons, and was ranked No. 1 in 2003. The current Sooners are No. 18 in total defense, allowing 324 yards per game.

Crowton, 50, who has been a head coach at Louisiana Tech and Brigham Young, coordinated one of the most prolific LSU offenses in school history this season, despite losing quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the first pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.

The Tigers rank No. 21 in total offense with 448. 2 yards per game, and No. 12 in scoring offense with 38. 7 points per game. LSU will take on No. 1 Ohio State in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

Foster, 48, is a four-time finalist and the 2006 winner of the Broyles Award. A graduate of Murray State, he has been at Virginia Tech since 1987, the year Frank Beamer took over the Hokies program.

English, 39, is known to have interviewed with Long, though there has been virtually no speculation that he might be considered a top candidate. A native of California and a graduate of Cal, he oversees a Michigan unit that ranks No. 24 in total defense, allowing 330. 4 yards per game.