Internal committee members handling the first phase of the NIU athletic department’s review have completed the interview sessions and are preparing to write their final report, committee chairman James Mellard said Thursday.

NIU President John LaTourette in January ordered the internal review, followed by an external review, to determine where the university is headed athletically. LaTourette said he would like the internal committee’s report completed by April 1, with the external committee finishing by June or July.

The internal committee started the review by handing out surveys to athletic department personnel. The second step involved interviews with those people.

“We’re at a point to hopefully begin writing and pulling things together,” Mellard said. “We’re trying to get a grip on what has arisen in the reports and the interviews.”

Mellard said about 20 people were interviewed, but because the committee promised anonymity to those interviewed, he would not reveal specific names. However, he said the committee interviewed coaches, administrators and NIU supporters. He said the interviews lasted at least 30 minutes, with a few taking as long as three hours.

“We offered them at the outset to say what was on their mind,” Mellard said. “Then we went on asking questions. Most people chose to open up to questions instead of coming in with prepared statements.”

NIU men’s basketball coach Jim Rosborough confirmed he talked to the committee, but he declined to comment on specific points he discussed. He said he could not make a judgement until the committee completed its report.

NIU football coach Jerry Pettibone also was interviewed. He said his wish that the football team remain an independent was part of the discussion, as he mentioned earlier in the survey.

NIU men’s tennis coach Carl Neufeld said the total scholarships available to his team and the condition of the outdoor facilities were the two main concerns he mentioned at his interview. He said his team currently has only two full scholarships available.

“I think we’ve been a little slighted in that (scholarship) regard,” Neufeld said. “Obviously if we’re offering a half a scholarship (to a recruit), and U of I is offering a full one, we’re at a disadvantage. Our outdoor courts are in poor condition. The Anderson courts were just resurfaced for the first time in 20 years.

Mellard said the committee is about a week behind LaTourette’s original April 1 target date, but he said the external committee will not begin its work until the middle of April. Mellard said spring break is the main reason for the delay.

LaTourette said Thursday the external committee should be named in about 10 days. He said four people likely would be included in that group—a university president, an athletic director and a National Collegiate Athletic Association faculty representative—each of whom come from a different university. LaTourette said a conference commissioner probably would round out the field.

“We are talking to people who are very knowledgeable about Division I programs,” he said.

LaTourette said one problem is finding people who have the time because April and May are a busy period for those people he would like on the committee.

Kenneth Beasley, NIU assistant to the president, said last week LaTourette has received “several” recommendations. He said LaTourette accepted recommendations for the external committee from a number of people including athletic directors and members of the internal review.