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The University of New Mexico will likely spend at least $30,000 to search for its next men's basketball coach.

The UNM Athletics Department has agreed on Bob Beaudine of Eastman and Beaudine consultants to engineer the hiring of Ritchie McKay's replacement, according to another search firm involved in college basketball.

Athletics Director Paul Krebs declined comment on the name of the firm, opting for an announcement some time this week.

Krebs wouldn't say how much UNM will spend on the search firm, but consultants can charge $50,000 or more for a college basketball hire.

Missouri spent a reported $70,000 for a firm to snag former Alabama-Birmingham coach Mike Anderson, its first-year coach.

Beaudine couldn't be reached for comment Sunday.

Jamie Koch, UNM's president of the Board of Regents, said the school had hired a search firm for its president and Krebs, who is in his first year at UNM.

John Kasser received $30,000 for working on the Krebs file.

"If you don't hire somebody like that, there's no way you can talk to (the candidates) the right way," Koch said. "If you use a third party to contact them, it gives distance there. You can't contact an existing coach without permission from their athletics director, and most coaches have agents, so this is a good thing."

Champ Search, the firm that hired New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus and Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, also was in the running for UNM's money.

Beaudine should have plenty of candidates to research. The Tribune has confirmed the interest of former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson, former Arizona State coach Rob Evans, Florida assistant Larry Shyatt, Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant and former Los Angeles Lakers star Michael Cooper.

Mike Dunlap could be added to that mix. The accomplished Division-II coach and now Denver Nuggets assistant told The Tribune "he would listen" if contacted by UNM.

Dunlap, a two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches coach of the year, led Metro State to two national championships. He said he hasn't been contacted by the Lobos.

"I would see what the objectives are, that kind of thing," Dunlap said. "I've always done that and gone from there. I understand what Albuquerque is. I understand the tradition of the team and everything they've done in the past."

It's rumored Colorado is interested in Dunlap.

Theus, who has NMSU poised for an NCAA at-large berth in his second season with the Aggies, declined comment on any interest in UNM and said he hasn't been contacted.