June 30, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Mark Bernsen head basketball coach at Missouri-St. Louis since 1999 and a former head coach at Southwest Missouri State, has been named an assistant basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University.

Bernsen will join coach Gary Garner's staff at Southeast on July 1.

"I think we are very fortunate to be able to attract a coach with Mark Bernsen's experience and ability," Garner said. "He has been an assistant coach and head coach at the Division I level and is a proven recruiter and coach. He is a good person who loves to coach the game of basketball and we look forward to him joining our staff."

Bernsen served as a Division I assistant at Idaho, New Mexico State, Southwest Missouri State and Murray State and was head coach at Southwest Missouri State from 1992 to 1995 with a record of 49-37 including an NIT quarterfinalist team in 1993.

As an assistant at SMS, Bernsen was recruiting coordinator for Charlie Spoonhour when the Bears advanced two teams to the NCAA tournament and one team to the NIT.

At Murray State, Bernsen was associate head coach and recruiting coordinator from 1986-1989 when the Racers won two OVC titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament one season and the NIT one season. He was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Murray State during the 1985-86 season.

Bernsen also served as head basketball coach at Jefferson Community College from 1977 to 1985 where he compiled four 20 win seasons including the 1984-85 team that was 28-8.

A graduate of UMSL and McBride High School in St. Louis, Bernsen coached McCluer High School to the Missouri 4A state championship in 1975 when he was named the Missouri Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Bernsen will be recruiting coordinator at Southeast and will be involved with all aspects of the basketball program.