Nov. 18, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Tim Billings, head football coach at Southeast Missouri State University, resigned from his position today to pursue other career opportunities. Billings announced the resignation and informed his team this morning, prior to the Redhawks' departure for Cookeville, Tenn., where they are scheduled to play Tennessee Tech on Saturday, 1 p.m.

The resignation is effective Jan. 31, 2006.

"I am extremely appreciative of the coaching opportunity Southeast gave me," he said. "I gave it my best effort for six years. But, I feel like it's time for a change in leadership with someone new who can infuse energy in the football program and work with this great group of young men.

"I would like to thank all of my players and their families, and all of the people in the community who have supported me and our program over the years," Billings added. "I am eternally grateful to them."

Kaverman said, "We are grateful to Coach Billings for his service to the University and the athletics program over the past six years. We respect his decision to pursue other career opportunities and wish him and his family well in their future endeavors. The University remains committed to the success of our football program and doing what we can to continue to be successful and competitive in the future."

University Athletic Director Don Kaverman is assembling a search committee immediately in the hopes of hiring a new football coach by mid-December, he said. The search and all hiring processes will follow the usual human resources procedures at Southeast.

Billings was named head football coach at Southeast in December 1999. He came to Southeast after serving as defensive coordinator at Marshall University. He served at Marshall for 10 years, where he was also assistant coach responsible for linebackers and defensive linemen and special teams coordinator. Prior to his tenure at Marshall, he was the assistant offensive coordinator, assistant coach and assistant recruiting coordinator at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has served as a graduate assistant responsible for running backs at the University of Oklahoma and as a graduate assistant responsible for defensive backs at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also has coached high school football and tennis.

In his six seasons at Southeast, Billings' teams compiled a record of 25-42. With one game remaining in the 2005 campaign, the Redhawks are 2-8 for the season and 2-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference race.