Ishee loses two assistants but gains a player

~ The Southeast women's basketball coach is in the market for staff members

It's summer time, far removed from the basketball season, but Southeast Missouri State women's coach John Ishee is busy as ever.

Not only did Ishee announce another signing Tuesday, he also is in the market for two new assistants after Jayme Callahan and La Kea Jones recently left the program.

Callahan, who spent two seasons at Southeast, will be an assistant at La Salle University of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Jones, at Southeast for one season, will be an assistant at New Jersey Institute of Technology, a newer Division I program.

"Jayme is going to a higher profile conference and La Kea is going close to home," Ishee said. "I understand both got pay increases from what they were making here.

"Every assistant that's left in the four years I've been here has gotten an increased position or a pay increase. You want coaches that want to elevate their professional lives. They both did a good job for us and we wish them well."

Ishee's lone remaining assistant, Elizabeth Cansdale, will be entering her third season.

"I'm busy going through the process of trying to put together the best staff possible," Ishee said.

Tuesday's addition to the program is 6-foot-1 forward/center Courtney Shiffer, who played as a freshman at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., last season. She will have three years of eligibility at Southeast.

Shiffer averaged 12 points, 5.9 rebounds, two blocks, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in helping Highland to a 24-7 record, the best in program history. The Cougars won their second straight NJCAA Region IV title.

Shiffer, who started all 31 games, shot 46 percent from the floor, including 32 percent from 3-point range. She earned all-conference honors.

"We are extremely excited and very fortunate to land a player of Courtney's abilities this late in the process," Ishee said.

Shiffer, a native of Freeport, Ill., played at Freeport High School with Southeast guard Katie Norman, who will be a sophomore in 2010-11.

"She's a competitor who can play more than one position," Ishee said. "Her work ethic, persona, abilities and overall game reminds me a lot of [former Southeast player] Rachel Blunt. Our fans are going to like to watch her play the game. We can't wait to get her on campus."

Baseball assistant leaves program

Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan also is looking for an assistant after Rick McCarty recently accepted a position at Campbell University. McCarty spent two seasons as Southeast's pitching coach.

Campbell, a Division I program in North Carolina, is coached by former Southeast assistant Greg Goff. Goff, who recently completed his third season as Campbell's coach, was at Southeast in 1998 and 1999.

Volunteer assistant Dave Lawson also is leaving the Southeast baseball program.