HOPKINS SAYS HIS LEAVING NOT TIED TO INVESTIGATION

Bill Hopkins, who resigned this week as Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics coach, said his decision to step down had nothing to do with an internal investigation of his program.

Hopkins, asked Friday about the investigation conducted by Southeast officials, said simply that, "There seems to always be something going on within the athletic department, but I really can't say anything more than that. The way sports are set up these days, it's a constant check and double check."

Neither Southeast interim athletic director Carroll Williams nor executive vice president Ken Dobbins were available for comment Friday, but sources told the Southeast Missourian that the school has been reviewing Hopkins' program for the past several months. Sources said that the NCAA has not become involved.

Asked if his resignation, which was announced Thursday, was tied to any school investigation of his program, Hopkins said, "No. This is totally my decision. It's just time for me to make a change. I feel I've done everything that I could here and I feel I've accomplished much more than I ever thought I could here."

Hopkins said his program has been totally above board in the 18 years he's been Southeast's coach.

"I feel very proud of everything I've done," he said. "I mean, you can't be anywhere for 18 years and not wish you didn't do some things differently. But I can't even think of anything off the top of my head right now."

Hopkins, who currently has no job lined up but will seek one in athletic administration, said he almost resigned as Southeast's coach prior to last season when he was offered a position as athletic director at Brian Cliff College, a small school in Iowa.

"Last year I looked very seriously at the AD position (at Briar Cliff), serious enough that I was offered the job," he said. "But for personal reasons that I don't want to go into, I turned it down."

Hopkins said he would love a similar type of opportunity to become an athletic director at a small school, like a Briar Cliff.

"I'd like to find a position at a nice, small NAIA, or Division III, school, maybe not even a Division II," he said. "I'd like to find a small college that I could have a real impact on their program."

Hopkins, who compiled a 378-164-1 record in 18 seasons at Southeast -- including a pair of Division II national championships -- said the rigors of building the program and keeping it at an elite level simply wore him down.

"Getting the program to this point, and keeping it this way, basically it's a 365-day a year job," he said. "I just feel it's time to get a life, maybe play a day of golf, maybe take a vacation."

Added Hopkins with a laugh, "I just turned 50 and maybe that mortality thing has sunk in. But I'd also like to walk and lift my arms above my head without pain. I want to give the old body a rest. It's physically demanding in the gym every day."

Looking back on his career at Southeast, Hopkins has mainly good thoughts.

"I've had a great 18 years at Southeast Missouri State University," he said. "I love Cape Girardeau. I think it's a great community.

"Obviously no one person builds a program like the Southeast gymnastics program. The help I've gotten from the community and my assistant coaches have just been tremendous."

Hopkins has so much respect for his two assistant coaches, Mark Sontag and Carrie Johnson, he said he'd like to see them take over the program next year.

"I hope they go with Mark and Carrie, maybe a co-coaching position, at least for a year," Hopkins said. "They are fine people. I don't think you could put on a search and get better people. They have been my right and left hand, and my legs, for a number of years.

"They're familiar with the program, they know my system, they know how I recruit and they know the kids."