Margenthaler takes over a struggling program

Hiring a coach on any level is generally a crap shoot. Most coaches seem qualified and talk a good game. Some succeed and some don't. It's just the way things work.

Taking that into account, Ty Margenthaler made a solid first impression when he was introduced as Southeast Missouri State's new women's basketball coach Thursday.

The 39-year-old Margenthaler, an assistant at Wisconsin the past five seasons, seemed personable and enthusiastic. His resume looks solid. Several people I've talked to in the profession and whose opinions I respect told me he's a high-quality individual who will do a good job.

By all accounts the Southeast women's basketball post is an attractive one, with a lot going for it compared to other Ohio Valley Conference programs despite the struggles of the past two years, when the Redhawks went 15-42, including 8-28 in OVC play.

Margenthaler inherits a team that had no seniors on this year's 13-player roster and signed two players early, meaning all 15 scholarships are currently accounted for. Things could change in that regard if some players leave, which often happens when a new coach takes over.

Next season, on paper, doesn't look bright for the Redhawks, but Margenthaler -- who signed a four-year contract -- will be partially judged by what takes place in 2011-12.

But a more definitive judgment should be reserved for what transpires over the following few seasons.

Only time will tell if Southeast rolled a seven or crapped out.

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The Southeast men's basketball program hasn't landed any players during the spring signing period that began Wednesday, no big surprise since coach Dickey Nutt told me he thought it might be several days before that happened.

Nutt has targeted a few junior college players who also are being recruited by other programs and he's waiting for them to make their decisions.

With a fairly solid roster already in place, the last thing Nutt wanted to do was sign somebody right away just for the sake of adding a body. He'd rather wait a little longer and see if he can land players he truly covets.

At the top of that list are 6-foot-1 shooting guard Corey Wilford from Connors State (Okla.) College and 6-6 wing Dijon Farr from Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, the same juco that produced Leon Powell.

Wilford was a second-team NJCAA All-American while Farr earned all-region first-team honors.

Another possibility for the Redhawks is 6-2 combo guard D'Mitri Riggs from Wabash Valley (Ill.) Community College.

Various recruiting websites have listed Riggs as giving Southeast a verbal commitment, but it's still not a given that the Redhawks will wind up signing him.

Nutt said the Redhawks could have some signings to announce this week.

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Two former Southeast football standouts playing in the NFL came back to Cape Girardeau for the university's first Athletic Alumni Weekend.

Offensive linemen Eugene Amano (Tennessee Titans) and Dan Connolly (New England Patriots) spoke to the Southeast football team following Saturday's spring scrimmage and then made it over to Capaha Field for the baseball doublehader with UT-Martin.

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Saturday's fourth annual Southeast Walk for Women's Athletics raised approximately $30,000 for the university's athletics scholarship fund. That amount is a record, according to Southeast officials.

Also setting a record were the more than 400 people who participated in the walk.

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The annual Plaza Tire Capahas auction will be Saturday at the American Legion on Thomas Drive in Cape Girardeau. Doors will open at 9 a.m. and the auction begins at 9:30.

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

For more information, call 335-6644.

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The Central baseball team not only knocked off the state's top-ranked Class 4 squad Wednesday when the Tigers handed Francis Howell its first loss of the season, 7-5.

Central also upended a club that had been ranked 12th in the most recent USA Today national poll.

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Five former OVC baseball players opened the season on major league rosters.

Austin Peay tops the list with four of the ex-OVC players: reliever George Sherrill (Atlanta Braves), reliever Matt Reynolds (Colorado Rockies) and catcher A.J. Ellis (Los Angeles Dodgers), along with former OVC pitcher of the year Shawn Kelley (Seattle Mariners), who is currently on the disabled list.

Morehead State product Jon Rauch (Toronto Blue Jays) began the season as Toronto's closer.

Ellis, as I've previously written, lived in Jackson until age 11 before he and his family moved out of the area for good.

Another OVC school, Eastern Illinois, has two alumni who are coaching at the highest level of professional baseball. Kevin Seitzer is the Kansas City Royals hitting coach and Tim Bogar is the Boston Red Sox first base coach.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.