Oct. 16, 2008

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State University Interim Athletic Director Cindy Gannon announced the appointment of men's Assistant Basketball Coach Zac Roman as acting head coach effective immediately. Roman was selected to serve while Head Men's Basketball Coach Scott Edgar is on administrative leave pending the outcome of a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Committee on Infractions hearing.

According to Gannon, "Zac has been a very effective assistant coach and I am confident that he will do a great job for the Redhawks."

Roman is in his second year as an assistant men's basketball coach at Southeast. He came to Southeast after serving five seasons as an assistant coach and interim head coach at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan.

"This is a difficult time for our program," Roman said. "But I am dedicated to making this team a cohesive unit and working cooperatively with our assistant coaches to give our players every opportunity to succeed. I am very pleased to be offered the acting coach position."

While at the helm of the Johnson County Cavaliers, Roman guided the team to an 11-9 record, Region VI Championship, District 10 Championship and the school's second appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament. In addition, he was named NJCAA District 10 Coach of the Year.

As an assistant coach at Johnson County, Roman helped to guide the team to two Region VI titles and six of his players earned East Jayhawk Conference honors, two were named NJCAA pre-season All-Americans and two earned Academic All-American accolades.

An active summer basketball camp coach, Roman has served on camp staffs for Kansas Coach Bill Self, Creighton Coach Dana Altman and Terry Carroll at Denver.

His high school coaching experience includes head freshmen coach and camp director at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita, Kan.

A nine-time high school letter winner in basketball, baseball and cross country, Roman turned down several National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and junior college basketball offers to pursue a baseball career. He played two seasons at Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kan., before a shoulder injury ended his playing career.

Roman is a graduate of Wichita State University.