After Billy Gillispie was officially named the head coach at Texas A&M University on Wednesday, Miner Director of Athletics Bob Stull began the search for his replacement.

Stull said his first order of business will be speaking with assistant coaches Alvin Brooks, Sergio Rouco and Doc Sadler.

"We'll interview all of the assistants first about the possibility of taking over the head coaching job," Stull said. "If we feel confident enough that one of them can do the job, we may not need to have a national search. We want to hire someone as quickly as possible, but we also want to make sure we get the right person."

Brooks, Rouco and Sadler have each spent one year with the Miner program. All three have head coaching experience.

Brooks was the head coach at the University of Houston from 1993-98. His stint with the Cougars included a second-place finish in the Southwest Conference in 1995-96. UH recorded wins over third-ranked Memphis and 19th-ranked Tulsa during his time on the bench.

Rouco began his coaching career in 1986 as the head coach and athletic director at Loyola High School in Miami. He directed the Bulldogs to a school-record 22 victories. Rouco was also the head coach at Miami Norland Senior High from 1991-95. He led the Vikings to 29 wins, another school record, in 1994-95.

Sadler was the athletic director and head coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith from 1998-03. He posted a 120-39 record while leading the Lions to four consecutive Bi-State conference championships, two NJCAA Region II championships and two trips to the NJCAA National Tournament (2001, 2002).

Gillispie accepted the A&M job after leading UTEP to a 24-8 record this past season, including the Miners' first NCAA Tournament bid since 1992.

"We're disappointed that he's leaving," Stull said. "The community has loved him. Nobody likes change. We'll do everything we can to keep the team together, but players sign with the school, not necessarily the coach."

The Miners will return their top four scorers for next season. UTEP will also add a standout junior college transfer (forward Ivan Almonte) and two prep standouts (guard Vernon Carr, swingman Alex Galindo).

"We have great players coming back," Stull said. "The good thing about UTEP is that it is a great basketball school. Billy got us back on track to where we wanted to be."