School begins search for a successor

~ Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman already has a search committee in place.

Southeast Missouri State athletic director Don Kaverman already has assembled a search committee in the hopes the university can hire a new head football coach by the middle of December.

Kaverman said he expects a national search for Tim Billings' replacement to yield impressive candidates -- and he said he still firmly believes having a consistently successful football program at Southeast is attainable.

"We remain absolutely committed to the success of our football program," Kaverman said Friday afternoon, just a short time after Billings' resignation was announced. "A lot of the challenges that Tim confronted when he came here six years ago, we've overcome.

"We've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrading Houck Stadium, and we've literally poured millions into that facility with what's going on in front and around it. We've upgraded funding for the program as well as compensation for the coaching staff. A lot of that credit goes to Tim. He worked hard to get that in place."

Added Kaverman, "Yes, I believe we're absolutely committed to fielding a championship program in our league [the Ohio Valley Conference]. I certainly feel that's entirely possible.

"I had the opportunity to address the football team before they left [Friday morning]. I let the kids know how much we appreciate what coach Billings has done, and let them know we're absolutely committed to having a successful program. We're going to get a good coach and go from there."

Kaverman said he will chair a search committee that includes assistant athletic director Cindy Gannon, Southeast Booster Club president Harry Rediger and Southeast Booster Club executive committee member Rich Eichhorst, along with a faculty member and a student-athlete still to be determined.

"We have a good group put together," Kaverman said. "The last time we went through this [in 1999], we had a coach before we broke for Christmas. Hopefully we will this time as well.

"I don't think we'll have any trouble landing a great coach, if last time is any indication. We were literally inundated with inquiries."

Kaverman said that all of Southeast's current assistant coaches -- whose contracts expire Jan. 31 -- will have an opportunity to interview with the new head coach.

One assistant, Damon Bradford -- Southeast's defensive coordinator who recently returned after spending the past 18 months serving in Iraq -- will be retained by the university for at least one year.

"We're going to bring Damon Bradford back, no question about that. He just got back. We're not going to send him packing," Kaverman said. "Damon will be here for at least a year. Then it's up to the new coach, whether he'll be retained.

"And we still might retain another coach along with Damon. It's not unusual, when these things happen, that a coach or two is retained, to keep things together. We have recruiting issues, and other issues, like the players' academics."

Billings' contract officially expires Jan. 31. Kaverman said Billings will not be required to serve any official university duties following Saturday's final game.

"But we hope he's available to help us through the transition," Kaverman said. "He's been highly professional throughout this whole thing. I'm sure he'll continue to take an interest in the program."