The process to find Eastern’s athletic director is taking a big step.

The athletic director search committee will have a closed meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Blair Hall to narrow down the applicants.

Illinois-Springfield athletic director Rodger Jehlicka said Tuesday he is not interested in the Eastern athletic director position.

Jehlicka was the Eastern associate athletic director from August 1999 to December 2005.

Illinois-Springfield is in the process of moving from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II level.

Marry-Anne Hanner, head of the search committee, said the committee would narrow the number of applicants to four of five finalists.

At this time, she would not say how many total applications had been received.

Faculty senate member Bud Fischer updated the faculty senate Tuesday on the ongoing search for Eastern’s AD.

Fisher, who is on the AD search committee and represents the Intercollegiate Athletic Board, said the committee has finished all phone interviews with the candidates and is now checking the applicants’ references.

Hanner said the committee would consult with Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, and Eastern president Bill Perry.

Nadler said he anticipates on-campus interviews to begin at the end of February and continue into early March. He said he is hopeful to have the process completed by April 1.

Hanner said the committee would like the finalists to visit Eastern in February. The visit would include open forums for the athletes, coaches and others to talk to the applicants.

ditor in Chief Matt Daniels contributed to this story.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.