THE SIDELINES : Elway Among N. Ariz. Applicants

Former Stanford and San Jose State Coach Jack Elway is among 77 people who have applied for the job as Northern Arizona’s football coach, school officials said.

A 12-member search committee started reviewing the applications Monday, and officials said Wednesday that a new coach could be named as early as this weekend.

The vacancy occurs because Larry Kentera announced Nov. 7 that he is resigning after his fifth season.

Tom Jurich, Northern Arizona’s athletic director, said that among the people who have applied besides Elway are USC defensive coordinator Chris Allen; Arizona defensive coordinator Larry Mac Duff; former NFL quarterback John Hadel, now a receivers coach at Kansas; Arizona State receivers Coach Don Bocchi; Western New Mexico Head Coach Bob O’Mera; West Virginia defensive coordinator Bob Shaw, and Boise State defensive coordinator John Gough.

“I think it’s a really strong field,” Jurich said. “I think it’s a credit to the university that we can attract those kinds of people.”