What to make of Kaverman's interview at Ferris State

Marty Mishow was tipped off to the news that Southeast Missouri State athletics director Don Kaverman is a finalist for the associate AD position at Ferris State, a Division II school (with Division I hockey) in Big Rapids, Mich.

Kaverman is having his public forum this (Wednesday) morning on the campus at Ferris State, following a process similar to the one at Southeast Missouri State.

I imagine one question for Kaverman, the only current Division I athletic director in a three-man field, is, "Why go from Southeast to Ferris State?"

Kaverman is a Michigan State man, but this is not a typical career move.

The last 12 months have been tough sledding for Kaverman and the Southeast athletic department. The NCAA issued its report on Southeast women's basketball violations and found that the AD missed the warning signs that came out of the university's internal report in 2003-04. Those signs should have, the NCAA contends, brought closer monitoring to the areas of the program, specifically the summer activities involving prospects who had not yet enrolled on the campus.

Add to that some of the recommendations in a review done by Carr Sports Associates that suggested restructuring in the administration, a clearer focus for the fundraising efforts and a handful of fixes for Title IX compliance. The report in some ways bolstered Kaverman's opinion that the department needed more money and more resources (especially when some were tied up with the NCAA investigation) but it also didn't help to have Board of Regents members see the department as directionless.

The program did have its positives in Kaverman's 10 years.

Kaverman's bio on the Southeast Web site last year said:

Southeast has claimed 21 Ohio Valley Conference team championships, eight OVC tournament championships and has sent eight teams and numerous individual athletes on to NCAA competition.

The women's athletic teams at Southeast have won the OVC Women's All Sports Trophy seven times. During Kaverman's tenure, Southeast athletes have won 27 OVC Athlete of the Year Awards and coaches have claimed 13 OVC Coach of the Year awards.

But applying for a position such as this shows Kaverman was not certain he would return to Southeast after his contract expires in the summer of 2009.

The other applicants are are Dr. Rob Barnhill, AD at Concordia University-Wisconsin and Jon Coles, who completed his second year as AD and assistant principal at Big Rapids (Mich.) High School.

According to the Ferris State Web site:

"Some specific responsibilities will include the oversight of the department's extensive marketing efforts, oversight of all department budget accounts and event management for the sports of football and men's ice hockey."

You can read more about the finalists and the process on the Ferris State Web site.

The Pioneer in Big Rapids reported that 59 applied for the job and eight were interviewed by phone before the finalists were selected.

"They all have experience as an athletic director at one level or another," AD Tom Kirinovic told The Pioneer. "That's really important for the oversight that's going to be necessary."