Four individuals -- Ripon College (WI) head coach Ron Ernst, University of Wisconsin-Stout head coach Ed Meierkort, and University of North Dakota assistant coaches Chris Mussman and Kyle Schweigert -- have been selected as finalists for the head football coaching position at the University of Minnesota-Duluth it was announced today by UMD Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bob Nielson.

Ernst has compiled an 85-40 overall record at Ripon College since taking over the head coaching responsibilities in 1991 (when he succeeded current UMD Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and former Bulldog head coach Bob Nielson.) During that time his Red Hawks captured three Midwest Conference North Division titles (1995-97) and two Midwest Conference championships (1996 and 2001). He previously served as a defensive line coach at the University of Northern Colorado from 1988-90.

Meierkort recently concluded his 11th season at Wisconsin-Stout and now sports an overall mark of 55-56 (29-11 over the last four years). In 2000, he directed the Blue Devils to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs . Prior to his appointment in Menomonie, WI, Meierkort served a nine-year assistant coaching stint at Southwest Minnesota State University (defensive coordinator from 1989-93 and assistant head coach from 1989-93).

Mussman has spent the past 13 years in the North Central Conference, the last three as North Dakota's offensive coordinator. An assistant coach in charge of the Fighting Sioux offensive line and tight ends during the 1999 and 2000 season, Mussman's collegiate coaching resume also includes an eight-year stay at Minnesota State University, Mankato (assistant coach from 1991-1996, offensive coordinator from 1996-97 and assistant head coach from 1997-98.).

Schweigert has been employed in an assistant coaching capacity at North Dakota since 1990 (after working two years as a Fighting Sioux graduate assistant). During the first eight seasons, he oversaw the defensive secondary before being named North Dakota's defensive coordinator in 1997. He added the title of assistant head coach in 2001. Before joining the Fighting Sioux staff, Schweigert spent five years a defensive coordinator at Jamestown College (ND).

Both Mussman and Schweigert are currently with the Fighting Sioux in Florence, AL, where they will take on Grand Valley State University tomorrow (Dec. 13) for the NCAA II championship.

The coaching vacancy at UMD occurred after Bob Nielson stepped down following the 2003 season to take over as the school's athletic director. Nielson was 38-18 (for a .667 winning percentage -- the best figure in the 71-year history of UMD football) in five season with the Bulldogs and coached UMD to its first 11-0 regular season finish ever in 2002 and an inaugural appearance in the NCAA II playoffs.

All four candidates will be interviewed on campus next week and a new head coach is expected to be named by the end of this month.