Now that Jim Mora has become one of the country’s hottest coaching commodities, he’ll probably have to get used to questions about other vacancies — whether or not those vacancies actually exist just yet. On Wednesday, he was asked about his interest in a potential Chargers job.

He quickly deferred to staying focused on Baylor, adding that he didn’t want to comment on a position still filled by Norv Turner.

Mora has talked at length this year about coaching in college. When the Seattle Seahawks fired him in 2010 after one season, he had doubts about his coaching future. Now he’s embraced more of a father-figure position coaching younger players, something he enjoys tremendously.

From Wednesday: “When I sat out those years (after getting fired), those couple years, I had a chance to go back in the NFL. There was nothing that pulled me there. There was something that pulled me to UCLA. Whatever it was that pulled me there, I’m thankful it did. That’s the best year of coaching I’ve ever had. I’m not talking about on the field, wins and losses. I’m just talking about the satisfaction of working with these young men and the environment at UCLA. …

“I guess it comes down to this. You’re able to have an impact on their lives. The concrete hasn’t hardened on who they are as individuals. They still need you. That’s a good thing. We all want to be needed. I like it when a kid comes into my office and is able to share either something great that’s happened in his life or needs my help with something. That’s a satisfying feeling. I’ve got 108 of those guys that I’ve made a commitment to and to their parents, to help them become the men that their families want them to be. I take it very seriously. It’s just been very rewarding. There’s a purity, there’s a passion. There’s an enthusiasm at this level that’s very unique.”