Texas AD: Brown's successor needed by mid-January

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) New Texas athletic director says Steve Patterson says he expects a successor to Mack Brown will be found in the next two weeks.

Patterson said before kickoff at the Alamo Bowl on Monday night that he believes Texas needs a new coach by Jan. 15. That's the end of the so-called "dead period" in the NCAA that prohibits coaches from in-person contact with recruits during bowl season.

Patterson said coaches "are certainly expressing their interest" in the job but wouldn't discuss any potential candidates.

The Alamo Bowl is Brown's final game at Texas after 16 years. He's resigning after a rocky final season in which Texas lost at least four games for the fourth consecutive year.