WRAL has been told that Roof likely will be named the next coach, beating out former Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Ross and two other candidates.
Athletics Director Joe Alleva is expected to recommend Roof to the president and Board of Trustees, who are expected to approve Roof's selection as coach at a Friday meeting.
Roof instilled enthusiasm into the program when he was named interim coach after Carl Franks was fired with five games left in the season. He led Duke to two victories, giving the Blue Devils a final record of 4-8, and he received two votes for Atlantic Coast Conference football coach of the year.
Roof reportedly became a leading candidate for the permanent job after presenting an impressive plan for the future during his interview with the search committee. His coaching skills -- which included a season-ending victory over the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill -- also seemed to impress the committee.
Alleva ended his interviews on Monday.
The 67-year-old Ross, a veteran college and NFL coach who led Georgia Tech to a share of the national championship in 1990, reportedly also interviewed well. But Roof also had the endorsement of the Duke players.
Other coaches who interviewed for the job are Washington Redskins assistant Hue Jackson and Dick Biddle, a former Duke player and the coach at Colgate.
Franks was fired Oct. 19 following a dismal 7-45 career mark in 4 1/2 seasons.
Under Roof, the Blue Devils snapped the program's 30-game Atlantic Coast Conference losing streak by beating Georgia Tech and ended a 13-game skid against rival North Carolina.
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