Southeast is making progress in search for AD

Southeast Missouri State remains on track to complete its search for a new athletic director by the end of this year.

Kathy Mangels, Southeast's vice president of finance and administration and the chair of the search committee, said Tuesday night the committee is in the process of telephone interviews with select candidates.

"Tentatively, we're hoping to bring finalists on campus next Wednesday," said Mangels, who said the committee is working out logistics for having those finalists participate in interviews, meetings with coaches and boosters and the public forums.

She expects the process to include three finalists, which has been traditionally the case in Southeast's recent searches for high-profile coaching positions such as men's basketball and football. Multiple candidates may come in on one day or the process may be spread over a few days next week, she said.

"Our hope is by the end of this year to have at least made a decision and be talking to a candidate," said Mangels, who said the candidate's current situation could be a factor in when that person could begin working at Southeast.

The university terminated the contract of Don Kaverman on Oct. 9, the same day men's basketball coach Scott Edgar was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an NCAA investigation into the men's basketball program. That investigation is the second NCAA probe into a Southeast athletic program in less than three years.

Kaverman's contract included 120 days' notice for termination, which means he remains on administrative leave until Feb. 7.

Southeast president Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, in announcing the termination, said he hoped to have a new AD in place by the end of this year to lead the strategic planning initiative in early 2009. The athletic department is one of the university's priorities in strategic planning.

In addition, the new AD will assist in hiring an associate AD for external affairs, one of the positions recommended in a review of the athletics department earlier this year by Carr Sports Associates, which also is taking part in the search process.

Mangels said the university identified 40 candidates who met the minimum requirements and that Bill Carr did a "tremendous job helping with the search."

She expected the three finalists to be announced Monday.

The associate AD position was posted at the same time as the AD vacancy, and the university has been collecting applications.