MIZZOU ASSISTANT LANDS AT SOUTHEAST; BUCHHEISTER NEW GYMNASTICS HEAD COACH

Southeast Missouri State University's new women's gymnastics coach knows first hand the strength of the program she is taking over.

"Oh yes, they're good," said Kris Buchheister with a laugh. "They beat us last year."

By "us," Buchheister meant her former school, the University of Missouri. And "they," in reference to Southeast, will now change to "we."

Buchheister was introduced Wednesday afternoon as the successor to longtime Southeast women's gymnastics coach Bill Hopkins, who resigned in June after leading the Otahkians for 18 years.

"I'm very excited," said Buchheister during a press conference on campus. "The current Southeast team has a lot of talent and I look forward to working with the athletes and assistant coaches Mark Sontag and Carrie Johnson (holdovers from Hopkins' staff)."

Buchheister, a St. Louis native, has been an assistant at Missouri for the past 11 years. Also a licensed physical therapist and rated as a Level 10 gymnastics judge, she feels her background has prepared her to take over a Division I program.

"I have a strong background of technical gymnastics, I have great strength in dance and my work as a physical therapist helps me consider the wellness of the gymnasts," she said. "I feel I am the right person for the job."

A collegiate gymnast and diver at Missouri from 1983-85, Buchheister joined the Missouri gymnastics coaching staff in 1986 and has served as team choreographer, coaching four Big 8 Conference floor and balance beam champions. Buchheister also assisted with NCAA compliance regulations at Missouri.

"After conducting a national search, we were happy to find a coach with a lot of experience and integrity already in the state of Missouri," said Lana Richmond, assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator at Southeast. "I feel confident that coach Buchheister will run a clean program and continue the fine gymnastics tradition at Southeast."

Even though, as Buchheister pointed out, Southeast beat Missouri last year, she has been part of a strong program with the Tigers, who actually hold an 11-6 series edge over Southeast.

Buchheister and her husband Doug, a former diver and diving coach at Missouri, have two young children, Danielle, 5, and Mason, 3. She felt it was time to take over her own program.

"I've been working as an assistant for 11 years," she said. "I feel I'm at the point where it's time to be a head coach."

She will be taking over a thriving Southeast program that qualified for the NCAA Division I Regional and placed second in the NIT of Women's Gymnastics last season. But Buchheister said she will not simply try to maintain the Otahkians' level of success, she plans to increase it.

"I think we can even raise it some," she said confidently. "The weakness (last year) was beam and dance and those are my specialties, so I fit in real well."

Buchheister said a big part of her program will be getting the community involved.

"Gymnastics has a lot to offer the community," she said. "I have dealt with a lot of community programs in the past and I plan to do that here."

Buchheister has already met with most of the Southeast gymnasts and the Otahkians say they are impressed.

"She's very nice. I think it's going to be a smooth transition," said standout Erin Chenier. "She seems really supportive of us as students and people."

Said Erica Smith, "I think we're all very impressed and excited. I think she'll do a great job."

The Otahkians lost just one senior from last season's highly successful team. They are scheduled to open the 1998 season January 17 at Texas Women's University.