But he and his family appear to be planning for a future in Raleigh.

A trust managed by his sports agency has purchased a $2.5 million home in an upscale neighborhood in North Raleigh, according to documents on file with the Wake County Register of Deeds.

The MLL Revocable Trust is managed by Frank Zecca, vice president of Octagon Financial Services in McLean, Va. The initials "MLL" may correspond to the first initials of Cowher's three daughters: Meagan, Lauren and Lindsay.

Cowher, 48, has strong ties to North Carolina. He played linebacker at N.C. State in the late 1970s. His defensive coach was Chuck Amato, now the Wolfpack's head coach.

Cowher's wife, the former Kaye Young, and her twin sister, Faye, were members of the Pack women's basketball team then and the sisters still have family in Bunn.

The Cowhers also own a summer home on Bald Head Island.

Kaye Cowher didn't confirm the family had purchased the North Raleigh house but said the family plans to live in Raleigh at some point.

"It's where we want to settle down. Raleigh is where we want to be," she said in a recent interview. "It's where we went to school, we have family and great friends there, and it's a wonderful city. We're looking into real estate there."

Estate planners can conceal residency or ownership for certain properties by creating trusts or companies to be named in public records.

Zecca would not comment on who would occupy the house. Likewise, home builder Don Collins would not comment on the buyer.

"I don't have to give out any information on anyone who buys my houses," Collins said.

The 7,400-square-foot house sits on 1.55 acres off of Norwood Road in North Raleigh.

According to the house's listing, it has five bedrooms, a built-in wet-bar, a whirlpool, a swimming pool and garage space for four cars.