Iowa State interviewed three candidates over the weekend and might have emerged with a leader in Chattanooga's Jeff Lebo, sources close to the search told ESPN.com.

Lebo, Wyoming's Steve McClain and Iowa State assistant Wayne Morgan interviewed with school officials in Des Moines over the weekend, sources said.

Lebo is the latest candidate to gain momentum in the brief search to replace Larry Eustachy. Last week, Eustachy reached a $960,000 settlement with Iowa State after reports he had partied with college students in Missouri and Kansas.

Eustachy, who had eight years remaining on a 10-year, $10 million contract, has since admitted he is an alcoholic and will seek treatment for the disease.

Creighton's Dana Altman, considered the favorite for the job, and Fresno State's Ray Lopes, a former assistant at Oklahoma, both pulled out of the running Friday.

McClain, an Iowa native, was in Iowa for his niece's wedding over the weekend. Iowa State might not have the funds to hire McClain because of the Eustachy settlement. McClain would need nearly $500,000 in a buyout, and then likely $700,000-plus to take the job.

That turns the search to Lebo, who is a young coach on the rise that would come at a cheaper price than McClain. Lebo has the North Carolina pedigree after playing for Dean Smith. He was the head coach at Tennessee Tech before heading to Chattanooga, and Lebo has no ties to the Big 12 or the Midwest. The Carlisle, Pa., was thought to be a candidate at Penn State, but didn't actively pursue the job, which went to East Tennessee State's Ed DeChellis.

Meanwhile, Morgan is also a legitimate candidate. The former Long Beach State head coach and Syracuse assistant has strong ties with the recruiting class -- three Massachusetts prep players -- and the current roster of players.

The new head coach might have to keep Morgan as an assistant if Morgan doesn't get the job. Iowa State's other assistants, Bob Sundvold and Steve Barnes, are not candidates for the job.