Tim Welsh, the former coach at Providence and Iona who has made three NCAA tournament appearances, has been in preliminary contact with Hofstra officials, a source said, regarding the Hempstead school’s head-coaching vacancy.

Welsh is among a host of names that could interview this week with athletic director Jack Hayes, including Hofstra assistant Van Macon.

However, another source said, that Pride officials are leaning heavily toward a hire with head-coaching experience to replace Tom Pecora, which is why Welsh has joined Cornell’s Steve Donahue, Vermont’s Mike Lonergan, Quinnipiac’s Tom Moore and Davidson’s Bob McKillop in the mix.

After nine seasons, Pecora left Hofstra last Wednesday for the same job at Fordham.