Lauren RabainoTen finalists for the Cal Poly football head coaching vacancy were interviewed over the weekend as the athletic department hopes to make a final decision by the end of this week, a team official said.
Rich Ellerson left the program after eight years when he accepted the head-coaching job at Army on Dec. 26.
As many as 45 candidates initially applied for the job, and after a first round of interviews, Cal Poly athletic director Alison Cone then narrowed down the list to the 10 candidates who gave a second interview.
Cal Poly did not release the names of the 10 finalists.
The school is attempting to fill the position quickly due to upcoming recruitment weekends. College football’s Letter of Intent signing day is Feb. 4.
Ellerson compiled a 56-34 record as the Mustangs head coach, highlighted by last season’s 8-3 mark that included a final Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) ranking of eighth and a berth in the FCS playoffs.
Ellerson finished second in the balloting for this year’s Eddie Robinson Award, presented by the Sports Network to the top FCS coach. He was also nominated in 2005.
Cal Poly led the FCS in total offense (487.45 yards per game) and scoring offense (44.36). They also finished second in passing efficiency (167.72), third in rushing offense (306.45) and ninth in sacks allowed (0.82).
The Mustangs won the Great West Football Conference Championship in three of the last five years under Ellerson.
Army marks the third head-coaching position for Ellerson, who also served as head coach at Southern Utah for one season in 1996.
Ellerson, 55, has strong family ties to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., where his father, a career Army officer, graduated in 1935. Ellerson had two siblings also attend the academy, including his brother John, who lettered in football three times and served as the team’s captain in 1962.
The Mustangs saw four players drafted under Ellerson’s direction, including third-round picks Jordan Beck (Atlanta Falcons) in 2005 and Chris Gocong (Philadelphia Eagles) in 2006. Quarterback Seth Burford (San Diego Chargers, 2002) and defensive back Courtney Brown (Dallas Cowboys, 2007) were seventh-round selections.
Wide receiver Ramses Barden is also expected to be drafted during this year’s draft, which takes place April 25 – 26.