MCDUFFIE AMONG EIU FINALISTS

Southeast Missouri State University athletic director Richard McDuffie is one of four finalists for the position of athletic director at Eastern Illinois University.

EIU, like Southeast, is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and competes on the NCAA Division I-AA level in football and on the Division I level in all other sports.

The other three finalists, all athletic directors, are Ted Aceto of Florida International, Paul Lueken of Slippery Rock and Tom Spicer of Fort Hays State.

Gail Richard, an EIU professor of communication disorder and sciences who is heading up the search committee, said final interviews will begin after the start of the spring semester later this month.

"All four have integrity, successful administrative experience in a broad-based intercollegiate athletic program, progress in gender-equity and knowledge of compliance," said Richard. "They have successfully increased the financial support and community involvement in their respective programs.

"In the preliminary interviews, all indicated a sincere interest in Eastern Illinois University and were excited about the opportunity it has to offer," she said.

McDuffie, who is vacationing in the Cayman Islands and could not be reached for comment, is in his eighth year as Southeast's athletic director.

In his 20th year as an athletic director, McDuffie served previously at North Texas, Central Connecticut State and Seattle.

"Interviews are being arranged to begin as soon as possible after the start of the spring semester in mid-January," Richard said. "Our goal is to complete the on-campus portion of the process by mid-February."