PROVIDENCE — Brown University should have a new men’s hockey coach by the end of this month.

“We’re hoping sooner rather than later,” athletics director Michael Goldberger said Thursday.

Forty-four candidates have applied to succeed Roger Grillo, who resigned after 12 seasons to accept a position with USA Hockey. Among them is Digit Murphy, the 20-year coach of the Brown women’s team. She confirmed Wednesday that she had applied.

Goldberger would not comment on Murphy or any other applicant.

“It’s a great group,” he said, adding that the application period remains open.

An 11-member search committee comprising faculty, administrators, coaches and athletes is winnowing the pool and expects to begin interviewing candidates by mid-July.

Finalists will visit the campus.

Goldberger wants to finish the process as soon as possible so the new coach can begin recruiting and hire a staff, but he stressed that the search committee will not act in haste.

“We want to do it right. We’ll do our due diligence and hire someone we can be proud of,” he said.