Austin Peay to interview six finalists for head coach

Mar 5, 2013 - 6:08 PM Clarksville, TN (Sports Network) - Austin Peay is set to hold on-campus interviews with the six finalists for its vacant head football coaching position.

The Ohio Valley Conference university is filling the vacancy created in late January when Rick Christophel stepped down after six seasons to become the tight ends coach with the Arizona Cardinals.

Central Michigan defensive backs coach Kirby Cannon will have the first interview on Wednesday, followed on Thursday by Austin Peay interim head coach and defensive coordinator Granville Eastman.

Andy McCollum, the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach at Georgia Tech, will interview on Monday, followed by Mike Markuson, a former offensive line coach at Wisconsin, Mississippi and Arkansas, on March 12.

Navy offensive line coach Ashley Ingram will interview on March 13 and Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Lance Leipold will interview on March 14.

In addition to Leipold, Cannon (Missouri University of Science and Technology, 1999-2010) and McCollum (Middle Tennessee State, 1999-2005) have collegiate head coaching experience.

Austin Peay announced it wants to hire the new head coach before the start of the Governors' spring practice on March 18.

The new coach will inherit a team coming off a 2-9 record and a last-place finish in the OVC along with Tennessee Tech.