Meeting with candidate set for Friday afternoon

Craig Schurig, the first finalist for Southeast Missouri State's vacant head football coaching position, will take part in a public forum from 3 to 4 p.m. on Friday.

Southeast faculty, staff, students and boosters, along with media members and the public, can question Schurig during the meeting in the Indian Room at the University Center.

Schurig has been the head coach at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., the past four seasons, compiling a 25-21 record, including a 17-7 mark the last two years.

This year, Washburn won its first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association title in school history, earned its first NCAA playoff appearance and won nine games for the first time.

Schurig was named the MIAA coach of the year after his squad had been picked fourth in the preseason poll. The Ichabods, ranked as high as No. 5 nationally, lost to Northwest Missouri State 42-32 in the second round of the Division II playoffs. Northwest Missouri, also a MIAA member, will play in Saturday's national championship game.

Three more finalists for the Southeast coaching position are expected to be interviewed in the next two weeks, although those finalists have not yet been determined.

The time and location of the upcoming public forums will be announced at a later date.