The University of Rhode Island may be turning to one of its own to lead the football program.

The Rams have called a news conference for 3 p.m. today to announce their new coach. Darren Rizzi, an All-American tight end at URI in 1991 and 1992 and the fourth-leading receiver in school history, may be the choice. Rizzi is currently associate head coach at Rutgers.

Rizzi will probably divide his time between Rutgers and URI until the Scarlet Knights wrap up their appearance in the International Bowl on Jan. 5 in Toronto against Ball State.

Rizzi visited the URI campus a week ago. Pete Adrian, a URI assistant from 1976 to 1985 and head coach at Norfolk State; Jack Cosgrove, head coach at Maine, and Robert Talley, head coach at Division II Stonehill, also were in Kingston. Adrian withdrew from consideration last Thursday to remain at Norfolk, where he was 8-3 and MEAC coach of the year. Cosgrove, whose contract at Maine expires on June 30, withdrew yesterday, leaving Rizzi and Talley in the running.

Rizzi, 37, would appear to have the edge because he is an alum, has head-coaching experience and was part of the Rutgers turnaround. Talley, an all-conference linebacker at Boston University and opponent of Rizzi’s on the field, guided Stonehill to a 5-5 record in his first head-coaching job. He was a longtime assistant at Dartmouth and spent three years with the San Francisco 49ers.

Talley declined comment yesterday, and Rizzi could not be reached.

Rizzi has spent six years on Greg Schiano’s staff as coach of running backs, linebackers and special teams. Prior to Rutgers he was head coach at Division II New Haven, compiling a 15-14 record in three seasons.

Rizzi started his full-time coaching career in 1993 as tight-ends and special-teams coach at Colgate. He moved to New Haven as an assistant in 1994 and stayed through 1997. He coached at Northeastern in 1998 before returning to New Haven as head coach in 1999. New Haven dropped football after the 2001 season, and Rizzi joined Schiano at Rutgers.

A tough and durable receiver under coach Bob Griffin, Rizzi started at tight end in 1990, 1991 and 1992. He still is fourth in career receptions with 160 and career receiving yards with 2,426. He caught 74 passes in 1992. In addition to All-America honors, he also was All-East and All-New England.

mszostak@projo.com