SE SPEEDS FORWARD IN SEARCH FOR NEW COACH

Southeast Missouri State University's search for a new football coach is progressing so rapidly, the school could announce four finalists for the position as early as today.

"We are getting close. We're probably in a position to announce the finalists (today)," said Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman, who is heading up the search committee for a new coach.

Kaverman said three of the finalists will likely be brought to Cape Girardeau next week for on-campus interviews, with the fourth finalist to come in the following week.

According to Kaverman, the public will have the opportunity to meet with all of the finalists, as had been the case when Southeast went through the process of hiring a new head men's basketball coach and athletic director in recent years.

"We've been working hard at it and we feel good about where we're at," said Kaverman. "We really want to have a coach as soon as possible. We don't want to lose any more time in the recruiting process."

The signing period begins Feb. 2 and Kaverman said the new coach would ideally have at least all of January to hit the recruiting trail and try to make up for lost time.

Several names have surfaced as potential finalists, with Marshall defensive coordinator Tim Billings being regarded as one of the frontrunners for the job.

Billings was with Marshall when the Thundering Herd were a Division I-AA power and he has helped lead their ascent to one of the nation's top I-AA programs in just a few years.

Marshall is 12-0 and will face Brigham Young in the Motor City Bowl later this month.

Billings has also been an assistant coach at Missouri.

Another potential finalist being mentioned is Iowa State quarterbacks coach Phil Meyer, who served as Southeast's offensive coordinator during some of the school's strong Division II years in the 1980s.

Southeast entered the market for a new football coach when John Mumford resigned Nov. 22, just two days after the Indians completed their second straight 3-8 season. Mumford was 40-70 in 10 years at Southeast.