It’s been almost four months since Hornet interim athletic director Debby Colberg resigned from her position on January 3.

Since that time, 75 applications have poured in for the athletic director position, and a selection committee has been assembled to narrow down the stack of applicants.

The athletic director “is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and overall administrative supervision of the university’s intercollegiate athletic programs,” according to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Announcement of Vacancy form.

The selection committee, headed by Edward Del Biaggio, vice president of financial affairs, will pick those candidates who they feel are best suited for the position.

“We are trying to narrow the applicant pool down to the individuals we want to bring to campus,” said Del Biaggio.

Biaggio told The State Hornet on Monday that there was a good chance the committee would narrow the candidate pool down to five or six applicants by today.

The remaining candidates will be brought to the Sacramento State campus, where the committee will interview them.

“There will be a set time where the campus community will be encouraged to come and ask questions to the candidates,” Del Biaggio said.

According to Del Biaggio, the selection committee should release the time schedule for applicants to face the community by the end of the week.

“We are looking for someone with strong leadership and fundraising skills,” Del Biaggio said.

After meeting with the candidates, the committee will make another cut and present President Donald Gerth with the remaining candidates. The committee will supply Gerth with what they feel are the pro’s and con’s for each candidate

The final decision will then be left up to Gerth, who has stated that he wants to make his decision before the end of the spring academic semester.

For now it is up to Del Biaggio and his committee to make sure Gerth gets his choice of the creme of the crop.

“I think the process is going very well,” said Del Biaggio, who feels that Gerth has imposed a “tight time frame” on his committee.

The committee is made up of eight members: one student, one community member and the rest faculty and staff.

The committee has met twice in the past week.

“I am hoping that the new AD will bring a vision which will strengthen the athletic program,” Del Biaggio said. “I hope the individual will assist us in developing a strategic plan in helping lead Sac State athletics.”

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