San Diego State University president Stephen Weber plans to conduct a national search to find an athletic director to replace Rick Bay.

His search for an interim athletic director might end up much closer to home.

Weber said he's seeking a person who's an experienced athletics professional as the interim AD.

"It's a tall order to find somebody that's available two weeks from now to come in," Weber said.

One person who might fit that criteria, as well as provide a much-needed dose of credibility, is former NCAA head Cedric Dempsey, who's now retired and living in La Jolla.

Dempsey was SDSU's athletic director for a short time in 1979 before leaving for the University of Houston.

Dempsey, who turned 71 last month, served as athletic director at Pacific (1967-79), SDSU (1979), Houston (1979-82) and Arizona (1983-93). Dempsey worked in the NCAA office from 1993-2002. He became executive director in 1993, with the title later changing to president.

On Thursday, Weber said he'd like to have a permanent AD in place by Jan. 1, 2004. He outlined what he's looking for in his search.

"What I'm looking for is a person of great integrity and a person who's committed to addressing the issues that have been put in front of the department by the NCAA and by this auditor's report," said Weber, referring to the California State University Chancellor Office's report that resulted in Bay's forced resignation.

"The leadership we need is capable of doing that and willing to acknowledge these issues and the scope of the issues."

Weber said he will form a committee to conduct the search for a permanent athletic director. He said nobody currently in the department will be considered to replace Bay, though there will be members of the department who will serve on the search committee.

Weber said he'll also ask Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson for suggestions on what candidates might be available.

Senior associate athletic director Joe Moeller said he has no problem with the president going outside the department to find a new AD.

"It's certainly the president's call on what he'd like to do," Moeller said. "It's his athletic program and my role is to make sure whatever we do externally is positive and says the right things about the accomplishments that we have and to get through some of the difficulties."