There currently is no list of candidates for a permanent replacement for former athletic director Cary Groth, who accepted in March a position at the University of Nevada at Reno.

Interim Athletic Director George Shur said he has received unsolicited phone calls inquiring about the position and that other NIU offices have received similar calls.

Vice Provost Earl Seaver said an outside firm will conduct the search and develop a list of potential candidates.

NIU still is undecided as to which firm will lead the search.

The firm will work to provide NIU President John Peters with information and recommendations of candidates, Seaver said.

“I’ve received calls; I know President Peters has received calls … at this point everything we receive, we will pass on to the search committee,” Seaver said.

Shur said he enjoys being responsible for about 110 staff members, despite being very busy going through the athletic department’s budget process.

Shur said he thinks the athletics department deserves some continuity of leadership and hopes a permanent athletic director can be named as soon as possible.

He said he doesn’t know if there will be any internal candidates up for the position but said there are a number of highly qualified people at NIU who could do the job.

There currently is no time table set as to when the new athletic director will be selected, Shur said.

NIU expects to have a candidate as early as July and at the latest by at September.