SE BEGINS FRESH HUNT FOR NEW AD

Southeast Missouri State University will launch a new national search for an athletic director beginning later this summer after no clear choice emerged from a pool of three finalists who interviewed and visited the campus during the past few weeks.

The announcement was made Wednesday through a university press release.

Carroll Williams, who has been serving as interim athletic director, will remain in that capacity until a replacement is found.

"It was my decision not to extend an offer to any of the finalists who recently visited our campus," said Southeast president Dr. Dale Nitzschke. "The search committee could not come to a consensus on any one of the candidates and I felt that none of them was a good `fit' for our campus."

Nitzschke added that the recent search may have been hampered by the earlier uncertain nature of the recently completed NCAA investigation of the Southeast men's basketball program.

"I believe a new search for a permanent athletic director ultimately will be successful now that the NCAA matter has been resolved," Nitzschke said. "The circumstances surrounding a new search are now much more favorable for locating a strong candidate."

The three finalists who recently interviewed and visited the Southeast campus are Robert Mullen, former athletic director at LaSalle; Paul Bubb, director of athletics at Cal State Northridge; and Bobby Thompson, director of athletics, intramurals and recreation at Texas-San Antonio.

Williams has been serving as Southeast's interim athletic director since last spring, when Richard McDuffie left to become athletic director at Eastern Illinois.