Former Idaho head football coach Chris Tormey, now the defensive coordinator at Wyoming, will interview for the Vandals’ vacancy this week, Cowboys coach Dave Christensen told the Casper Star-Tribune on Monday.

Tormey went 32-23 in five seasons with the Vandals from 1995 to 1999, including a victory in the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl. He left for Nevada, where he went 16-31 in four seasons.

Footballscoop.com, a site dedicated to coaching information, reported that San Jose State offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren will also interview.

Idaho fired sixth-year coach Robb Akey after the eighth game of the season.

Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear said Saturday that he conducted 15 phone interviews and had narrowed the search to five finalists, who will have face-to-face interviews.

“I think we’ve been very thorough,” Spear said. “We’ve talked to a variety of different coaches. I’m excited to get this thing done. And I’m excited to bring someone in who embraces the expectations we have as a university and as a department to get this football program moving forward.”

Spear said the hiring could be delayed as new candidates become available when the regular season ends.

“I want to make sure we take a look out there to see what’s going on,” he said.

Interim coach Jason Gesser’s future remains uncertain after the Vandals lost his four games by a combined score of 173-62.

“It’s time for us to move forward,” Spear said of Gesser’s time as coach. “It’s time for us to start this rebuilding process.”