Two people familiar with the search process, including one search committee member, said most or all of the finalists have experience as athletic directors and represent what is said to be a "diverse" mixture of people.

Originally four candidates were picked as finalists but two more were added. UH officials refuse to disclose the names of the finalists who will meet with a delegation from the school at an undisclosed location in Dallas Saturday and Sunday, or to characterize their experience collectively or individually.

Eastman & Beaudine, the UH-contracted search firm, is headquartered in Dallas, where the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics annual convention is being held next week.

Former UH football coach Dick Tomey, who has been considered the front-runner since the opening was announced, declined to comment on whether he had been contacted by the school. "I just can't say anything right now," Tomey said. But he said he planned to be in Hawai'i this weekend.

Two other announced candidates, associate athletic director Jim Donovan and former KFVE general manager and UH assistant football coach Rick Blangiardi, said they have so far not been contacted.

The UH delegation to Dallas will include Deane Neubauer, interim Manoa chancellor; David McClain, search committee chairman; Paul Costello, UH vice president for external affairs, and search committee members Ronald Cambra, Bitsy Kelley, Bert Kobayashi Jr. and Edward Kuba.

From a group of approximately 50 candidates who had either applied or been nominated for the position, Eastman & Beaudine turned over a list of "10 to 20" semifinalists to the search committee last week. McClain refused to release the exact number, saying only, "it is in double digits but less than 20."

The 18-member search committee then met for more than seven hours Saturday discussing the candidates. Committee members each turned in a "blind ballot" of three to five names who were forwarded to Neubauer, who chose which ones to invite to Dallas.

Costello said UH would pick up the expenses for the candidates, search committee members and UH officials going to Dallas. He was not immediately able to estimate the cost.