Bringing back Ishee was the right decision

The Southeast Missouri State administration finally made a decision regarding the future of women's basketball coach John Ishee. I believe it was the right one.

Southeast announced last week that Ishee will remain as the Redhawks' coach. He received a one-year contract extension through the 2010-11 season. His original four-year contract was set to expire April 30.

Ishee's future at Southeast was in doubt after one of the worst seasons in program history. The Redhawks went 7-21 overall and a last-place 4-14 in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference as they matched the program record for losses in a season and missed the OVC tournament for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.

Southeast was hit hard by injuries and the Redhawks also had the fourth-youngest team in the nation, with nine freshmen.

But, as bad as this season was, I thought it would be an injustice if Ishee was shown the door.

Ishee took over a program in turmoil four years ago after all the NCAA violations and righted the ship, leading the Redhawks to consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Despite this season's struggles, Ishee has a 69-53 record in his four seasons at Southeast. As I wrote recently, compare that to the other major sports at Southeast during that same period. You get my point.

I'm happy that Ishee will have the chance to turn things around next season. He's not only a good guy but, in the sake of fairness, deserves the benefit of the doubt after all the positive things he did with the program in his first few years.

However, by receiving just a one-year contract extension -- you realistically couldn't have expected Southeast to make more of a commitment, considering the Redhawks are just 22-36 the past two seasons -- it's clear that another really down campaign almost certainly will mean the university will be in the market for a new coach.

Hopefully the Redhawks will bounce back in 2010-11 and that will be a moot point.

---

Who knows how good a Division I player he'll turn out to be, but Southeast men's basketball fans should be excited about the verbal commitment 7-foot, 255-pound junior college center Zach House gave coach Dickey Nutt last week.

House averaged about 15 points, nine rebounds and several blocked shots per game this year as a sophomore at Sauk Valley (Ill.) Community College.

I've heard good things about House, who I have been told has excellent hands and a nice shooting touch around the basket as well as from up to 17 feet or so.

I'm sure House has his share of deficiencies, but a person whose opinion I really respect believes House will be a very good player for the Redhawks.

Former Southeast assistant Ronnie Dean, who coaches perennial national juco power Highland (Ill.) Community College, went up against House's team three times this season and saw House play five other times. Dean told me the Redhawks are getting a steal.

Dean said Sauk Valley is traditionally overlooked in recruiting circles. Otherwise, he believes House would have attracted serious attention from some major programs.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding. The first day House can make things official is April 14 when the spring signing period begins. He told me he plans to do just that.

House is Southeast's second known verbal commitment for the spring signing period, joining 6-8 high school senior Dominique Elliott from Savannah, Ga.

Southeast signed 6-9 forward Waylon Jones from Albany Tech Community College in Albany, Ga., during the early period. Jones missed his entire sophomore season with a stress fracture, meaning he will have three years of eligibility with the Redhawks.

Also, I've been told by a reliable source that Nutt recently offered a scholarship to former Bell City standout Nick Niemczyk, a sophomore guard at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Niemczyk was among the top players this season for the Raiders, who finished second in the national junior college tournament.

Although Niemczyk suffered a torn ACL in the national semifinals and missed the title game, I've been told Nutt has kept the scholarship offer on the table.

---

Area track and field enthusiasts have a chance to watch their sport this weekend when Southeast will host the annual Joey Haines Invitational.

Although the meet begins Friday, the majority of the competition will be held Saturday.

---

The annual Plaza Tire Capahas auction, originally scheduled for April 10, has been pushed back to May 1.

It will be held at the American Legion hall on Thomas Drive in Cape Girardeau, with doors opening at 8:30 a.m. and the auction beginning at 9 a.m.

A variety of items will be auctioned off. All proceeds benefit the Capahas, among the nation's oldest amateur baseball teams.

For more information, call 335-6644.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.