It appears Texas A&M has found its new head football coach.

The chairman of the Texas A&M board of regents, Erle Nye, indicated that Dennis Franchione is likely to be named head coach at Texas A&M University.

"I understand they are past the big items," Nye told the Associated Press.

Franchione, who currently holds the head football coaching position at the University of Alabama, is expected to arrive in College Station at Easterwood Airport shortly.

Franchione had previous successful head coaching stops at Southwest Texas, New Mexico and TCU before taking the Crimson Tide to a 10-3 record this season.

In his two years in Tuscaloosa, Franchione compiled a 17-8 record after taking over for a fired Mike DuBose.

Franchione has close ties to the state of Texas and is expected to be a boon to Aggie recruiting. The A&M coaching position became available on Monday after first-year A&M President Robet Gates relieved longtime coach R.C. Slocum of hs duties.