The search for NIU’s new athletic director will close today at 10:30 a.m.

NIU President John Peters’ pick for the new AD will be announced at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant, located inside the Tremont Hotel, 100 E. Chestnut St. in Chicago.

The new AD will be introduced at the NIU Convocation Center at 3 p.m.

The search was narrowed to two people: Kevin Anderson, the senior associate AD at Oregon State University and James Philips, the senior associate AD at the University of Notre Dame. Scott Barnes, AD at Eastern Washington University, dropped out of the running Aug. 16 after negotiating a new contract with his university.

“We know these individuals very well,” Peters told the Northern Star. “Now it’s just a matter of trying to match one of them with NIU.”

The position opened when Cary Groth, NIU’s AD for the past 10 years, accepted the same job at the University of Nevada at Reno March 8.

Interviews for each of the candidates were completed in early August. The 12-person selection committee, headed by Vice Provost Earl Seaver, was formed by Peters in late April. They picked the finalists from a list of more than 70 candidates.

Former NIU General Counsel George Shur has served as interim athletic director since Groth’s departure.

Both Anderson and Phillips would move up the ladder if selected as NIU’s AD.