Search for Porter's replacement reaches final stretch

Jeri Porter coached five seasons in Fairfax, leading the Patriots to their first CAA tournament victory since 2006 (Photo courtesy of Mason Athletics).

The George Mason University women's basketball head coaching position could be filled as early as this weekend, according to Mason Athletic Director Tom O'Connor today. 

Coach Jeri Porter resigned as women's basketball coach on March 22 after completing her fifth season at the helm. 

Under her tutelage, Porter achieved a 51-100 record, coached three 1,000-point scorers—Brittany Poindexter, Taleia Moton and Amber Easter—and led the Patriots to their first win in the CAA Tournament since 2006. 

According to O'Connor, Porter's reason for stepping down was because she "wanted to go on to other things." 

The search process for the next women's coach has been underway since Porter's resignation and is now in its final stages. 

Similar to the men's basketball coach search after head coach Jim Larranaga left for the University of Miami, the four-team search committee for the next women's basketball coach has worked around-the-clock to find a replacement.

The number of candidates for the position is not concrete but according to O'Connor's estimation, there are upwards of 80 applicants for the job. 

The prospecting, vetting and interviewing process is winding down with the final interviews taking place tomorrow, and a decision could be made shortly after.

Here are some tweets from Porter on the day of her resignation: 

My faith is real and my future is bright! #walkyourtalk

— Jeri Porter (@CoachJeriP) March 22, 2013

Forgetting those things behind, and reaching toward the things ahead… I press toward the mark! #blessed

— Jeri Porter (@CoachJeriP) March 22, 2013