University of Maine interim athletic director Blake James said continuing the athletic program’s “academic success” and making the most of its fund-raising efforts will be his main concerns when his tenure begins later this month.

James will replace Patrick Nero, who will leave Maine on July 23 to become the commissioner of America East. A national search for the permanent AD will begin when the school year begins.

“I want to do everything I can to make our program successful. I’m really focused on my role as interim AD and I’m going to do the best job I can,” said James. “This is a great place. When you look at our coaching staff, you recognize that. That’s why we have great coaches and why we’ll have two more [baseball, softball] in the near future.

“I want to continue what we’ve already put in place. It will be very important to have a great year academically. Patrick made that a priority for us. It’s important for our program to have an academic-driven mission,” James added.

Maine’s 3.12 grade point average among its student-athletes was second best in the America East Academic Cup competition behind Vermont’s 3.14.

“Financially, we need to meet our budgetary expectations, internally and externally. We have to make the most of our fund-raising, ticket sales and corporate sponsorship,” said James.

The University of Maine’s football game against traditional Division 1-A power Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. on Sept. 3 will put $350,000 in the Maine vault.

“It’s a nice boost for our program to have a game like that and to be able to bring that type of revenue into our program,” said James.

The 36-year-old Minnesota native is also heading up the search committees for the baseball and softball jobs.

He said each program will be expected to “compete for America East championships year in and year out.”

He said they will probably bring “two or three finalists” for the softball job next week.

Michelle Puls was the interim coach last season after Deb Smith left for personal reasons.

James and the other committee members are still sifting through the baseball applicants and contacting coaches they feel will be strong candidates.

Paul Kostacopoulos resigned late last month to take the job at the United States Naval Academy (Md.).

“We’re still in the evaluation stage,” said James, who added that they want a coach in place before the school year starts.