CAPE GIRARDEAU (March 3, 2002) - Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner has announced that assistant coach John Daniel has resigned to become Director of Enrollment, Athletic Director and head basketball coach at Saxony Lutheran High School in Cape Girardeau.

Daniel joined the Southeast staff in September after serving as an assistant at Washington University in St. Louis the past five years. "I'm not leaving Southeast, I'm going to Saxony Lutheran," Daniel said. "This move is not about basketball, but is a move from the heart to help the school and the Lutheran community. My father and grandfather were both Lutheran ministers and I feel a calling to help Saxony Lutheran reach its potential.

"Working at Southeast and with coach Gary Garner this season has been a totally thrilling experience for me. We went through some tough times as a team this season, but working with Coach Garner through the tough times was a tremendous experience. I feel good about the young players on this year's Southeast team and I feel good about the progress we made and the future of the program. I know assistants Keno Davis and Gary Abner are on some good recruits and with a good recruiting class Southeast basketball will be back quickly."

Garner said he hated to lose Daniel, but that he understood his desire to help the new Saxony Lutheran High School. "John did a great job for us," Garner said. "He is a very talented coach with a good working knowledge of basketball. He had a good rapport with our players and I really think that he has the potential to be a head coach at the Division I level.

"I certainly wish him well in his new position at Saxony Lutheran. John has been a loyal assistant and a good friend." Garner said he would not conduct a search for a new assistant until after recruiting is completed.