SONTAG ACCEPTS NIU JOB

Mark Sontag, an assistant gymnastics coach at Southeast Missouri State University for the past nine years, has been named the head women's gymnastics coach at Northern Illinois.

Sontag replaces Bobbie Cesarek, who stepped down to become the Huskies' compliance coordinator. Cesarek had been NIU's coach since the program's inception in 1978, compiling a 277-252-1 record.

"Mark comes highly recommended by his colleagues," said NIU athletics director Cary Groth. "Southeast Missouri State University is a strong program and he has been a vital part of what they have accomplished."

Sontag helped lead Southeast to considerable success and he hopes that will rub off in his new position.

"Bringing that success is going to be one of our main goals this season," he said. "I'm excited about this new opportunity."

Southeast will now be in the market for two new gymnastics coaches since head coach Kris Buchheister recently left to became an assistant at Iowa. Buchheister had been the Otahkians' head coach for two seasons.