College Station school officials expect to name a new director of student activities on Tuesday, creating an administrative position responsible for athletics along with other extracurricular activities such as band and choir.

Tuesday also is the last day to apply for the job of head football coach and campus athletics coordinator at College Station High School, which will open in the fall. District officials hope to chose the new coach this month, before the University Interscholastic League's biennial realignment announcement Feb. 2.

College Station High School will open with freshmen and sophomores, competing at the varsity level in every sport except football.

Longtime Consol coach and administrator Sue Betts has served as interim athletics director since Jim Slaughter resigned last spring. When she was hired, Betts said she would not be interested in a position with duties outside the athletics department.

Speculation about potential candidates for the new position has centered on Consolidated principal Ernest "Buddy" Reed. On Monday, Reed could not be reached for comment. CSISD superintendent Eddie Coulson declined to talk about individual candidates.

The decision to place athletics and fine arts under one administrator is unusual. At almost all Texas high schools, the athletics director is responsible only for sports.

"While it is maybe something that might be somewhat unusual, there are other places that have done such a move," Coulson said. "For us it's going to be a good fit. It's something that I think will work well for CSISD."

The director of student activities should be a part of a committee that soon will begin interviews with candidates to become College Station High School's first head football coach. Coulson said the hiring process will be similar to the procedure used last year when David Raffield was chosen to replace Slaughter at Consol.

"I will make the final recommendation to the school board," Coulson said. "We have a committee of individuals that will participate on the interview committee."

Coulson said he expects interviews to begin soon after Tuesday's deadline for applications.

"We've had a strong response to the posting," Coulson said. "The last time I checked it was over 70 applicants, and there's still time for more to apply.

"We have a lot of very, very qualified applicants. The good news for us is it will be a tough choice. I think we'll have an opportunity to work through some good candidates and make the right decision for College Station High School."

Bryan officials also are seeking a new head football coach and campus athletics coordinator to replace Bob Bellard, who was asked to resign in November. The deadline to apply for the Bryan job was Monday, with interviews likely to begin this week.