Interim coach strives for a permanent title

Tom Farden hopes to ultimately have the "interim" tag removed from his new job as Southeast Missouri State University's head women's gymnastics coach.

"Absolutely," a smiling Farden said Thursday afternoon from behind the desk in his office at Parker Gym. "I want the job."

Farden, a Southeast assistant the past four seasons, was this week selected to head the program on an interim basis for the 2004 campaign. He replaces Patty Stotzheim, who resigned earlier this year after four seasons as the Otahkians' coach.

Southeast had narrowed the search for Stotzheim's replacement to two finalists who were rec*ently interviewed on campus, but the university elected not to hire either one. Athletic director Don Kaverman said another national search would be conducted early in 2004. Kaverman also said a search is under way for a part-time assistant for Farden.

Farden believes he must prove himself to the university during his interim season -- the first meet is Jan. 16 -- if he is to be seriously considered for the permanent position.

"I look at it that way," he said. "I think a lot will be decided this year. We need to have a good season."

Farden believes big things are in store for the Otahkians, who had an 8-13 record last season and have gone 32-50 over the past four years. Only one Southeast gymnast completed her eligibility last season, Amy Cole.

"I feel like this will be a really big year. I'm positive and charged up. The athletes are also fired up. They know my style of coaching and the energy I bring," Farden said. "I feel like I can do a good job. I want to take the program to the next level, which would be a top-40 team nationally."

The 29-year-old Farden, who was born in Korea but grew up in Minnesota, is also excited about the future because he said the university recently gave the program a large locker room area in the Parker Gym complex, where the Otahkians practice. The team previously had no locker room.

"We're going to renovate it really nice and it's going to be a locker room/lounge area for the athletes," Farden said. "We're going to use that as a big recruiting tool."

Two-time regional qualifier Ashley Godwin, a senior, and sophomore Tara Boldt -- two of last season's standouts -- are elated that Farden will be their coach this season.

"It's good for our program," Godwin said. "I think he has a lot to offer. We all think he's a really good coach and we would love to see him get the job after this season."

Added Boldt, "We're very excited to have him, just because we know what he's like. I'm really comfortable with him as a coach. He very personable and great to work with. We have a lot of fun, but we also work hard. I would love to see him get the job after this season."

Farden, who came to Southeast with Stotzheim prior to the 2000 season, continued to recruit and run the program after Stotzheim left even though there was no guarantee he would have a job if a new coach was brought in.

"I went on with my duties as normal," he said. "I wasn't 100 percent sure I'd have a job, but I was confident I would be held on as an assistant coach at least for this season."

Interestingly, Farden did not apply for the head coaching position after Stotzheim left.

"At the time I wasn't interested," he said. "I wasn't sure if being a head coach was what I wanted."

Now Farden, who along with wife Christina owns and operates the Spectrum Training Center in Cape Girardeau -- the couple has no children -- is sure and he intends to prove himself worthy of the position on a permanent basis.

"I've been committed to the university the last four years," he said. "My relationship with the student-athletes is a very positive one and I want to keep coaching them. I think this group of athletes will be phenomenal."