Southeast Missouri State athletic director announces retirement

Southeast Missouri State athletic director John Shafer announced Thursday that he'll retire on June 30 after 40 years in college sports administration.

Shafer, who was named to the position in December 2008, was formerly director of athletics at Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Mississippi.

In a university news release, Shafer gave the following statement:

"Southeast Missouri State University is an outstanding institution and while I love my job and I'm honored to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful student-athletes and coaches, it's time for me to devote some quality time to my family. My wife, Dianne, and I both have parents who are in need of some assistance and I believe this is a good time to leave Southeast in the capable hands of an outstanding athletics organization.

"We have truly enjoyed our time here in Cape Girardeau and the opportunities we've had to work with the student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff. We've made great friends here in this region and I believe I've been able to cooperatively work with the athletics staff to bring this organization to a higher level."

"I want to thank President Ken Dobbins for the opportunity and the Board of Regents for their support during my tenure at Southeast," Shafer said. "There have been a number of successes over the last three years and I've been extremely blessed to work with some outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff members."

"I'm extremely grateful for the leadership John Shafer has provided our Athletics Department for the last three years," Dobbins said. "He was the right person at the right time for our University. He helped us expand our athletics programs, hire outstanding coaches, and reorganize our Athletics Department. Although he was just here for three years, we are light years ahead because of his leadership and contributions."

"John has truly exemplified what an athletics director should be throughout his career. We want to thank him for his great spirit, positive attitude, and his loyalty to Southeast and our athletics programs. He and his wife, Dianne, will be missed by our staff, our coaches, the entire Southeast athletics booster program and most importantly by our student-athletes."

Southeast President Ken Dobbins said the university will hold a national search for Shafer's replacement. Current associate athletic director Cindy Gannon will take over as interim director starting July 1.

Look for more on this story later at www.semissourian.com/sports and in Friday's Southeast Missourian sports section.