Expect an announcement soon on whether Joel Maturi will continue as Gophers athletic director.

Maturi’s contract ends in June and that deadline will direct a decision by new University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler who has been busy with many issues.  If Maturi and Kaler decide a change is the best decision, expect a lot of speculation about candidates.

Among the names will be Stony Brook University athletic director Jim Fiore who is in his ninth year at the New York school, the same institution where Kaler worked until coming to Minnesota last July.  Fiore’s teams have won numerous conference championships and he’s known as an effective fundraiser.  He’s also consistently balanced the budget for his Division I school.

Fiore’s name was rumored with the North Carolina athletic director opening last fall.  He was senior associate director of athletics at Princeton before taking over at Stony Brook.  He is a native of Long Beach, New York, and he played college football at Hofstra.

Maturi has been the Gophers athletic director since 2002.  He has spent most of his career at Minnesota working for president Robert Bruininks who preceded Kaler.

Among the reasons Kaler was hired as president is his commitment to athletics.   Whether it’s with Maturi or someone else, there is a long to-do list of issues facing the athletic department in the next few years including whether to eliminate some sports to save money.