Georgia Tech ought to hire Rick Neuheisel as its next coach, Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick says.

Neuheisel, 46, has eight years' experience as a head coach at Colorado and Washington and is in his third season as an assistant on Billick's staff, the first two as quarterbacks coach and this season as offensive coordinator.

"I can't think of a better choice for Georgia Tech than Rick," Billick said in an e-mail response to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Rick has a proven track record as a head coach. His expertise and creativity is well-documented. Having come to the pro game has just enhanced his football pedigree. His infectious enthusiasm and natural charisma was made for the college game. He is a natural born recruiter."

Neuheisel had an on-the-field record of 66-30 in eight seasons as coach at Colorado and Washington, with a Pacific 10 championship in 2000 and a victory in the 2001 Rose Bowl. Off the field, though, things didn't go as well.

Colorado forfeited five of its victories in Neuheisel's third season because of an ineligible player. The NCAA put Colorado on two years of probation for rules infractions, most of them recruiting violations that occurred when Neuheisel was the coach. The NCAA also essentially forced Washington to ban Neuheisel from off-campus recruiting from Oct. 2002-May 2003. The infractions report quoted Neuheisel explaining the violations as mistakes he made as a young and aggressive coach.

"Was I trying to be creative? Yes. Was I trying to be aggressive as a young 33-year old head coach trying to make it in a world that is extremely competitive? Was I out there trying to win favor, and so forth? There is no question. Nearly all of these issues could have been avoided had I checked, and more importantly, probably double-checked with the compliance officer at the University of Colorado," Neuheisel said in the report.

Washington fired Neuheisel in 2003 for participating in a big-money NCAA basketball tournament pool. It turned out a memo from the athletics department's compliance officer mistakenly authorized participation in NCAA tournament pools. Neuheisel won a $4.5 million settlement from the school and the NCAA.

He jumped back into coaching with the Ravens, and though Neuheisel didn't receive the offensive coordinator title until this year Billick suggests Neuheisel filled that role in 2006, when Billick himself was officially the coordinator. Billick said 2006, and not 2007, provides the most accurate view of Neuheisel's ability. The Ravens rank 24th out of the 32 NFL teams in total offense this season after ranking 17th last season.

"I hope those making this decision don't let our rash of injuries and lack of production this year affect their opinions," Billick wrote. "As the offensive coordinator he was a substantial part of our 13-3 season last year and our top 10 showing offensively in the last half of last year."

When Tech hired Chan Gailey six years ago, Gailey served out the season as offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. Neuheisel wouldn't have to do that.

"Having spent 12 years in the college game myself I know the importance of the upcoming months for any school Rick might go to," Billick wrote. "He will be free to attend to his duties at Georgia Tech effective immediately. I have dealt with this situation before, and to do it any other way would not be fair to the school, Rick or the Ravens."

Neuheisel could not be reached by telephone or e-mail. A Ravens spokesman said Neuheisel was not commenting about college jobs. Tech officials have declined to comment on candidates to replace Gailey, who was fired on Monday after going 44-32 in six seasons.