Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little met with KU athletic department staff members Thursday morning about the upcoming search for a new athletic director.

Gray-Little told 150 coaches and administrators in Hadl Auditorium that she has heard from numerous individuals from many different entities regarding the position.

“I haven’t heard from the Vatican or the White House,” she joked, “at least not yet.”

Gray-Little said she hopes to name a search committee of five or six individuals by the end of next week. She said she would like to have KU’s new AD in place by mid-spring semester or sooner.

“We want to capitalize on all the great things that athletics has achieved over the past seven years,” she said.

She said she will talk to student-athletes and KU athletics staff during the process, and welcomes comments from staff members.