No search committee has been formed as yet, but the process to replace former University of Maine women’s basketball coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie is well under way.

Advertisements for the position already have appeared in the NCAA News, on UMaine’s Internet web page, on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association web site and at the Women’s Final Four in Philadelphia.

UMaine athletics director Sue Tyler, who serves on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, came away from the Final Four encouraged about the university’s prospects for finding a top-notch replacement for Palombo.

“While in Philly I had a large number of contacts with coaches and those who recommended names to me,” said Tyler, who indicated upwards of 50 candidates are expected to apply.

“I would say that I’m in the recruitment phase of the process to be sure that we have a strong pool of candidates to choose from,” she said. “It looks quite promising to hire a very strong replacement.”

Among the preferred qualifications for the head coaching job, UMaine has listed a minimum of three years’ collegiate coaching experience, either as a head coach or as an assistant.

That would appear to preclude high school coaches from the list of prospective candidates. Paul Vachon, the highly successful girls coach at Cony High School in Augusta, is among those who already have applied for the job.

Tyler is confident the Black Bears can attract a coach who will enable UMaine to maintain its status as an America East front-runner.

“Our program will still be at the top of the conference and we are looking forward to a very capable new head coach,” she said.

The deadline for applications is May 1.

Palombo on March 27 announced her decision to accept the head coaching job at Michigan Staure in Orono. Her teams compiled a combined 167-73 record (.696) made six consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, won three America East championships and posted seven straight 20-win seasons.

Joe Roberts, UMaine’s athletic media relations director, explained the university hopes finalize its search committee by next week.

“We’ll follow a very similar procedure in terms of the way we’ve hired head coaches in the past,” Roberts said, referring to the searches that produced volleyball coach Sue Medley, softball coach Deb Smith, women’s hockey coach Rick Filighera and men’s basketball coach John Giannini.

Palombo buyout nets Bears $22,500

In return for escaping the last four years of her five-year contract with UMaine, Palombo is required to pay the university a buyout equalling three months’ salary, or $22,500.

Palombo, who earned $90,000 per year at UMaine and who is expected to bring in well more than $100,000 at Michigan State, said her new employer has agreed to pick up the tab for the buyout. Further, the money is earmarked specifically for the UMaine women’s basketball program, she said.

UMaine spring football set to begin

The University of Maine football team is scheduled to begin its three-week spring season Thursday afternoon at Alfond Stadium in Orono.

Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Bears will go through 14 practice sessions during the abbreviated spring season, which culminates with UMaine’s annual intrasquad scrimmage slated for Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m. on Morse Field.