An 11-member search committee at the University of Maine has identified four finalists for the school’s vacant director of athletics position.

UMaine announced Friday that Robert Corran, David Diles, Jody Mooradian and Patrick Nero, each of whom has extensive experience in athletic administration, have emerged from a field of 50 applicants.

Each finalist will participate in a two-day visit to the Orono campus during the next two weeks and will meet with several UMaine constituency groups and the local media. When the visits are completed, the search committee will make recommendations to UMaine President Peter Hoff, who will then make the selection.

“This is an exceptionally talented and accomplished group of people,” said Diana Lawson, associate dean of UMaine’s College of Business, Public Policy and Health, who chairs the search committee. “I am very pleased with the quality of applicants this job has attracted and I believe we have identified an outstanding group of finalists.”

UMaine seeks to replace Sue Tyler, who stepped down from the post after six years effective last June. Paul Bubb, who has held the position on an interim basis since July 1, 2002, had applied for the full-time post but was ruled out finalist about three weeks ago.

Corran has been the director of athletics at the University of Minnesota-Duluth since 1997. While there, he has managed an athletic program that encompasses 16 varsity sports, 500 student-athletes and a $5.1 million operating budget.

While at UMD, Corran has overseen a major restructuring and restaffing of the department and a reorganization of athletic marketing and promotions activities. His efforts have helped achieve a 400 percent increase in alumni donations.

Corran also implemented a Division I women’s hockey program, planned and designed a campus sport and fitness center, and directed the renovation of a hockey arena and student-athlete academic center.

Corran, the AD at the University of Calgary from 1985-97, holds a B.S. in physical education from Ithaca College in 1971, earned a master’s from Springfield College in phys ed in 1978 and was awarded a Ph.D. at Ohio State in 1979.

He was the head hockey coach at the University of Windsor from 1979-85.

Diles has been the director of athletics at Eastern Michigan since 1999. He has been instrumental in soliciting three of the largest athletics gifts in school history, increasing private giving to the Athletic Club by more than $218,000 in one year.

Diles also helped execute a $290,000 renovation to the Eastern Michigan baseball facility and restructured the department’s sales and marketing division. As a result, the school added more than 70 new sponsors and saw revenue increase from $45,000 in 1998-99 to $275,000 in 2001-02.

During Diles’ tenure, Eastern Michigan has achieved gender equity in participation, implemented a student-athlete discipline policy and instituted a alcohol and drug education and testing program.

He graduated with a B.S. in journalism from Ohio University in 1983, then earned a master of sports administration in 1984. Diles then received a doctorate in education at the University of Michigan in 1988.

Prior to Eastern Michigan, Diles served as a vice president and AD during a five-year stint at St. Bonaventure University.

Mooradian has been the senior associate AD and senior woman administrator at Northeastern University since 1997. Mooradian has been responsible for internal operations and sports administration. Her duties have included planning and conducting staff meetings and managing a financial aid budget of more than $6.5 million.

Mooradian has overseen eight varsity sports and several staff members while handling all human resource matters for the department. She has developed an equity and diversity plan and a policies and procedures manual for NU athletics.

She is a member of four committees, serving as chair of the NCAA Women’s Rowing Committee and the America East SWA/Equity Committee. Prior to Northeastern, Mooradian was the AD at Edinboro University from 1994-97. That came on the heels of a six-year career as an attorney.

Mooradian graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in political science, then earned a law degree from the Delaware Law School.

Nero is amidst a seven-year term as the senior associate AD at the University of Miami, assisting the AD on issues including budgeting, student-athlete needs, personnel evaluation, long-range planning and capital improvements. He manages a staff of 42 employees with oversight of fundraising, corporate sales and marketing, among other concerns.

Nero has directed a $100 million capital campaign for athletics concentrating on facilities and endowments. A weight training facility, track and soccer stadium have been completed, while a new basketball arena and baseball stadium renovation should be finished later this year.

Nero created a telemarketing unit that has helped raise an additional $7 million in ticket revenues the last three years. He oversees corporate sales and sports information.

Nero earned his undergraduate degree from Providence College in 1987. He served as PC’s director of development from 1992-96, then was an assistant AD at Lamar and Marquette for two years each.