SEMO BASKETBALL SEARCH COMMITTEE WINDING UP WORK

Southeast Missouri State University's search for a new basketball coach is winding to a close and the school is expected to announce its selection in the next several days.

The four finalists out of an original field of 54 made visits to Southeast last week, where they each spent an entire day meeting with various school officials and on-campus as well as off-campus organizations.

Finalists for the position are Missouri assistant coach Kim Anderson, Iowa State assistant coach Sam Weaver, Purdue assistant coach Bruce Weber and Fort Hays (Kan.) State head coach Gary Garner.

Southeast executive vice president Ken Dobbins, co-chair of the search committee for a new coach, said the committee is scheduled to meet a final time at noon today.

Following that meeting, said Dobbins, the search committee will make a presentation to Southeast president Dr. Dale Nitzschke

Dobbins emphasized that the search committee will not recommend any of the candidates to Nitzschke. Rather, the committee will simply present the pertinent information it has gathered regarding the candidates, including the strengths of each one.

Dobbins said it will be up to Nitzschke to make the decision on a new coach and then recommend his selection to the Southeast Board of Regents, which Dobbins said approves all hirings at Southeast.

Dobbins said there is no definite timetable on selecting a coach, but he indicated the school would like to introduce the new coach this week.