FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- If Mike Anderson does not succeed Nolan Richardson as head basketball coach at the University of Arkansas, the new coach will be asked to keep Anderson on the staff, athletic director Frank Broyles said.

Anderson, 42, who has been with Richardson for more than 20 years, served as interim head coach after the university decided to buy out the remaining six years of Richardson's contract.

Anderson performed in that capacity during a victory over Vanderbilt in the final game of the regular season and during a loss to Tennessee in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Broyles also said that Anderson would be the first coach interviewed about the head coaching vacancy.

"In our negotiations with Nolan, we put in there that he (Anderson) would be the first one to be interviewed," Broyles said. "And, secondly, if he wasn't the one selected, that I would strongly appeal to the new head coach to keep him, for the continuity that's always been there, so that we have at least one of the previous staff. And I would make every effort to have him be the one that the new coach would consider."

At Atlanta, where the SEC tournament was still under way, Anderson said he had no doubt he should be chosen to succeed Richardson.

"I know I can coach, ... I know I can recruit," Anderson said. "So that's no problem there."

Keeping Anderson on the staff could hold together Richardson's recruiting class, particularly Andre Iguodala of Springfield, Ill.

Broyles has promised that a committee of former Arkansas players will play a role in selecting the new coach and said that committee should be in place by Monday. He has reportedly contacted Ron Brewer, Joe Kleine and Tommy Boyer and Boyer is expected to chair the committee. Boyer played at Arkansas in the early 1960s.

"I don't think we can do anything until after the (NCAA) Tournament," Broyles said. "We'll meet next week and will start with Mike and then go to the less profile ones, the assistant coaches from outstanding programs. And then we'll get to the head coaches later.

"None of those coaches feel comfortable getting their name out before the season is over," Broyles said.

Members of the current Razorback team are unanimous in supporting Anderson for the job, the athletic director said.

"That's how you'd want them to feel," Broyles said. "Their feelings will certainly (be considered)."

He said Anderson could be interviewed by the middle of the week.