Bryan school officials expect to start interviewing candidates to become their new head football coach next week and to make a selection this month.

Deadline to apply for the position is Monday. Athletics director Harry Francis said interviews likely will begin next week.

Francis said he wants to have a new coach hired before the University Interscholastic League's biennial realignment on Feb. 2.

"We want to get this thing done as soon as possible for our kids, but we're going to be diligent," Francis said. "There should be no reason we don't have this done before January's over."

Bryan is seeking a replacement for Bob Bellard, who was asked to resign in November after six years as the Vikings' head football coach and campus athletics coordinator.

About 80 coaches had applied for the position a week before the deadline. Francis said the Jan. 9 deadline was set to allow coaches of playoff teams to complete their seasons and to give potential applicants time over the holidays to mull possible moves.

BISD officials could name the new coach at their regularly scheduled board meeting Jan. 23. Francis wants the new coach to have input on next season's schedule. Nondistrict matchups usually are set before or immediately after realignment.

"We've got calls to make on the nondistrict schedule, and I really don't want to pick anybody's poison," Francis said. "I'd like to let the head coach have some leverage on who he wants to play. Getting somebody here in January is important because you get time to assess you staff and kids, to get your program started."

Bellard was hired in May of 2006 to replace Marvin Sedberry, who resigned.

Last season the injury-plagued Vikings went 4-6 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Bellard, a former Bryan player, had an overall record of 32-31 during six seasons as the Vikings' head coach.

Francis said he expects a good pool of candidates for the position.

"You look for proven success, people that have a plan," Francis said. "You're trying to look at your school and find the candidate that best fits the package overall."

Francis and other members of the Bryan athletics department and administration will interview candidates. The committee will forward the names of three or four finalists to superintendent Tommy Wallis, who will interview them and recommend a candidate to the school board.