Mesa Mountain View principal Craig Luketich said a tentative timetable is in place that he hopes would afford the school a new football coach by the middle of this month.

Luketich said he plan on interviewing four candidates over the next two weeks -- two from out of state and two in state -  in the effort to replace Tom Joseph, who was let go in mid-November after guiding the Toros for nine seasons.

Luketich said the interview process will proceed in three steps.. A first interview with a committee of parents and faculty, followed by a meeting with himself and athletic director Shawn Rustad and a final meeting with existing assistant coaches.

"After that process we'd make a decision and it could take place by the middle of January or so," Luketich said.

Joseph has since been hired by Corona del Sol as its new coach. Three other East Valley schools have head football coach openings at the varsity level -- Higley, Chandler and McClintock.