SEARCH FOR NEW COACH TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY

The search for a new head football coach at Southeast Missouri State University will begin virtually immediately, Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said Monday.

Kaverman, speaking just a short time after it was announced that John Mumford had stepped down as the Indians' head coach, said, "We will post it (the opening) nationally on the NCAA web site (today) and the coaching grapevine won't take long for word to get around."It's the kind of thing that begins immediately. We'd like to get a head coach as soon as possible, but we haven't set a definite timetable. We'll see what kind of candidates we eventually have and go from there."Kaverman said a search committee has already been formed to begin the process of selecting a new coach.

On the committee will be Kaverman; Southeast boosters Jim Limbaugh and Jim Rust; Southeast NCAA faculty representative Georganne Syler; Southeast assistant men's basketball coach Anthony Beane; and Isaac Powell, a junior member of the Southeast football team.

Mumford's resignation will technically be employed by the university until his contract expires Jan. 31, but Kaverman said, "We don't have any specific plans for coach Mumford. We obviously don't expect him to be in his office recruiting."We appreciate everything he has done for the university and will assist him in any way possible."All of Mumford's assistant coaches except for defensive line coach Rory Segrest will not have their contracts renewed when they expire Jan. 31.

Kaverman said Segrest will be retained and "he'll report directly to me until a new head coach is in place."Kaverman said the assistant coaches who will not have their contracts renewed "will all have the opportunity to interview with the new head coach, whoever that may be. And all are welcome to apply for the head coaching position."