DaytonDailyNews.com

NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. is one of three finalists to become Central State University's next athletic director.

The school's search committee has recommended the three finalists to President John Garland to replace Theresa Check, who is leaving to become the AD at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. The other finalists are Tony O'Neal, a CSU graduate and associate director of athletics for development at Maryland-Eastern Shore, and Jahan Culbreath, the Marauders' assistant athletic director and men's and women's track and field coach.

Anthony Fairbanks, Central State's vice president for institutional advancement and chair of the athletic director search committee, did not specify a timetable for hiring the new AD. Check's contract with the university expires July 31 and is not being renewed by the school.

Fairbanks said one of the new AD's main priorities will be fundraising, including gaining football games with guaranteed payouts. This season, for instance, the Marauders will play in the Chicago Classic against West Virginia State for a guaranteed $50,000, face Youngstown State for a payout of $30,000 and travel to Alabama A&M for at least $30,000.

The school will also expect the new AD to search for revenue streams in "innovative events" like the Dayton Classic football game and lead the program into full NCAA Division II membership, which begins this fall.

"We have to be able to do a better job of soliciting private dollars," Fairbanks said.

The Marauders returned football to the athletic department beginning with the 2005 season with private-only funding. Last season, the school played a full 11-game schedule for the first time, joined the Great Lakes Football Conference and finished 5-6.

Winslow, a Chargers tight end from 1979-87, could be drawn to the job because his son, Kellen, plays for the Cleveland Browns.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.