The search is on for who will next take the reigns of Sacramento State’s athletic program.

The athletic director committee, which received 75 applications for the job opening, recently narrowed the pool down to five candidates, who will be invited to an open forum with the campus community from April 29 through May 3.

The eight-member committee, headed up by Edward Del Biaggio, was assembled after Interim Athletic Director Debby Colberg announced her resignation on Jan. 3.

The five candidates for the athletic director position are Kelly Higgins, James Fallis, Mack Rhoades, Nelson Bobb and Terry Wanless.

Higgins, who appeared at his open forum on April 29, most recently served as director of athletics at the University of South Dakota.

Fallis, whose open forum took place on April 30, most recently served as director of athletics at the University of Northern Colorado for the past eight years.

Rhoades, whose open forum appearance takes place on May 1 at 3:30 pm in Lassen Hall, room 2006, is currently in his third year as associate athletic director for external relations at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Bobb, who is scheduled to appear May 2 at 3:30 pm in Lassen Hall, room 2006, has spent the last 19 years as director of athletics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Wanless, who will appear on May 3 at 3:30 pm in Lassen Hall, room 2006, served at the athletic director at the University of North Dakota from 1990-99. Wanless is currently in the business of athletic consulting.

After meeting with the five candidates on campus, Del Biaggio and his committee will next narrow down the candidate pool once again, and present president Donald Gerth with the remaining applicants. Gerth, who will make the final decision as to who Sac State’s next athletic director will be, has said he would like to make the decision before the end of the spring semester.

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