Farden gets green light to build on success

Tom Farden's impressive debut season as Southeast Missouri State University's head gymnastics coach has been rewarded.

Farden, who served as the Otahkians' interim coach this year following four seasons as their assistant, on Wednesday officially had the interim tag removed.

"Coach Farden stepped in last season as interim coach and guided our gymnastics team to the most successful season since 1998," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said. "His coaching was embraced by the team and resulted in a very successful year. Coach Farden also did an excellent job of raising funds for the new gymnastics locker room.

"There was no reason to look to the outside. We have the person in place that has proven he can get the job done."

Farden was naturally elated with the administration's decision.

"I'm absolutely excited," he said. "I'm ecstatic about this opportunity and I am grateful that the administration has shown confidence in my abilities.

"They gave me an opportunity to prove myself this past year. Don basically outlined that we wanted to have a building gymnastics program that is working toward a regional berth, working toward a top 30 program. I don't feel like we've even come close to reaching our full potential. We are in a position to make some very positive strides."

Farden, 30, led the Otahkians to their first winning record since 1998 this year as they went 15-7 and narrowly missed their first NCAA Division I regional berth since 1997. Southeast wound up less than four-tenths of a point from the eighth and final qualifying berth in the South Central Region. The Otahkians also qualified three individuals for regionals.

"We pushed really hard this year and had a lot of firsts. I was really proud of the team," Farden said. "We moved up to 45th in the national rankings out of about 90 teams, which was a big improvement."

Although the Otahkians graduated one of the program's best-ever gymnasts in Ashley Godwin, they return regional qualifiers Tara Boldt and Alexis Traylor along with the majority of their other athletes. Farden said there is no reason they can't continue to improve next season.

"Absolutely. I don't think Southeast is by any stretch of the imagination topped out," Farden said. "We lost some very good athletes, but we have some good ones coming back and we have some talent coming in. The potential is there to even do better than last year."

Farden said the new gymnastics dressing room that is slated for completion this summer should only help the program continue developing.

"We will have a beautiful new $50,000 locker room that will provide a home for our gymnasts and help us in recruiting," he said.

Farden, a native of Minnesota who primarily coached youth and high school age gymnasts before coming to Southeast, said he is committed to helping elevate the Otahkians' program to the status it previously held under longtime coach Bill Hopkins.

Hopkins went 388-171-1 over 18 years before leaving Southeast in 1997. He won two Division II national titles and made six Division I regional appearances, including a fourth-place finish in 1991.

"I have a commitment here. I want to see this program rise, to get it where it once was," Farden said. "We've made strides and we're trying to put Southeast back on the map as a reputable program."

Added Farden: "I really like Cape. I met my wife Christina here and I'm elated things have worked out."