March 10, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The three finalists for head women's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University have been scheduled for on-campus interviews.

Southeast Director of Athletics Don Kaverman, who heads the selection committee, announced the three finalists as Alan Eads, assistant women's basketball coach at Southeast; David Slifer, women's basketball coach at Missouri Western State College; and B. J. Smith, women's basketball coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M.

"We feel we have three excellent candidates who all have outstanding records as head women's college coaches," Kaverman said. "All three will go through day long campus interviews that will include meetings with the search committee, athletic department coaches and staff members, members of the women's basketball team, Booster Club members, the general public and media. All three will also meet individually with Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, President."

The interviews will take place at the University Center and Boosters and members of the public are invited to meet and visit with each candidate at 3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The open meeting on Monday and Tuesday will be in the Missouriana Room and Thursday's open session will be in the Indian Room.

Smith will be interviewed on Monday. His Northeast Oklahoma A & M team is currently undefeated and ranked number one in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association. In three seasons his overall record is 92-6 and his teams have never been ranked lower than fourth in the nation.

A graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, Smith has also served as women's basketball coach at North Arkansas College, associate head women's basketball coach and head track and cross country coach at Phillips University and assistant men's basketball coach at Southwestern College.

Slifer, who will be interviewed on Tuesday, has the number one ranked NCAA Division II women's basketball team. His Missouri Western team entered Regional Tournament play with the number one ranking and a 27-2 record. With an overall record of 160-51 in seven seasons, Slifer has guided the Griffons to six straight NCAA II tournament appearances.

A graduate of Mount Mercy College, Slifer also served as women's basketball coach at Mount Mercy College for seven seasons with a record of 189-28 including five trips to the NAIA national tournament.

Eads, who will be interviewed on Thursday, has been an assistant coach at Southeast since 1995. He previously served as women's basketball coach at Moberly Area Community College where he had a record of 199-37 in eight seasons. Named NJCAA Region XVI Coach of the Year five times, Eads guided his team to eight conference championships and five national tournament appearances.

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Eads also served as a coach at Moberly High School and Kearney High School in Missouri.

Kaverman said he hoped to name a new coach during the week of March 18.