Georgia State athletic director Cheryl Levick said she would like to hire a replacement for fired men's basketball coach Rod Barnes before the Final Four. That gives the school, which hired the Atlanta-based firm Parker Executive Search to assist, about a month.

Levick would delay the timeline if the school is interested in a candidate whose team is still in the NCAA tournament. However, one reason she fired Barnes on Sunday, days before the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, was to get a head start on the process. Barnes was 44-79 overall and 24-48 in the CAA in four seasons at Georgia State.

Levick, who already has several received inquiries and recommendations, said she is looking for a CEO and a builder.

"We have a lot of exciting things happening on campus," Levick said. "I want the new coach of our men's basketball program to catch that excitement."

Interim coach Paul Graham will be a candidate if he has interest in the job, Levick said.

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