SAN ANTONIO — Former Miami coach Larry Coker is among three finalists to become the first head coach of the new Texas-San Antonio football program.

UTSA athletics director Lynn Hickey said Monday that Coker and the other candidates will be interviewed within the next 10 days. The school has said it wants to make a decision by March.

Coker hasn't coached since the Hurricanes fired him following a 6-6 season in 2006. He led Miami to the BCS championship in 2001 and went 60-15 in six seasons with the Hurricanes.

The other finalists are Tulsa associate coach and co-defensive coordinator Paul Randolph and Northwest Missouri State head coach Mel Tjeerdsma (CHURCH-mah).

UTSA, a Southland Conference member, hopes to make its college football debut in 2011 in Division I's championship subdivision.