The Giants can already cross off one of the most desired coaching candidates from their search.
Stanford’s David Shaw, a top target of NFL teams in recent years, told The Post on Saturday he has no intention of leaving his alma mater anytime soon.
The Giants were interested in interviewing Shaw when their head-coaching position was vacant nearly two years ago, but the Stanford coach had no interest in leaving his job, and he has rebuffed the advances of all other interested NFL teams since, including the nearby 49ers.
Since being promoted from offensive coordinator, and taking over for Jim Harbaugh as head coach in 2011, Shaw, 45, has compiled a 73-20 record, and been named Pac-12 Coach of the Year four times, while leading the Cardinal to three conference championships.
“I’m planning for the long haul,” Shaw said. “As much as we’ve won and played well, I think we’re still establishing ourselves and we’re still building and we’re still growing. We can accomplish so much more, and I don’t feel like that the job’s close to halfway done.”
In New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, featuring Stanford running back Bryce Love, Shaw said he has gotten used to seeing his name linked to positions he never has considered, and understands why he again is being mentioned as a potential candidate for the Giants. He said there isn’t any truth to speculation he would leave Stanford.
“My wife’s from New Jersey, so every time I come back here I hear it,” Shaw said. “I made the mistake of just going to visit the Rams last year. We were going recruiting, and I was with Jeff Fisher and a couple of the guys at a walk-through, and I see, ‘Coach Shaw does a walkthrough because he might be the Rams coach.’ I’m like, ‘No, I just wanted to say hi.’ I get that a lot.
“We take it in stride. I tell my guys, it’s a testament to what we’ve done.”
For Shaw, money isn’t a reason to leave college, since he reportedly made more than $5.6 million this year.
Curiosity over what he’s missing in the pros isn’t a factor, either, since the California native spent nine years as an NFL assistant (1997-2005), with the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens.
“That helps a lot because I think that’s a big draw for a lot of college coaches, which I understand if you haven’t coached at that level,” Shaw said. “I’ve coached at that level. I’ve worked with All-Pro guys and Hall of Fame guys, and I’ve coached in every game except for the biggest one, so it’s not like, ‘OK, that’s my goal and I have to get there.’ My goal is to do great things at Stanford. If one day that happens, great, but it’s not a goal in my career to do that.”
