Hogan loses longtime assistant coach

~ Scott Southard is leaving the program after seven seasons.

Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Mark Hogan knows the person he eventually hires as one of his assistants will have big shoes to fill.

Hogan is in the market for a new assistant coach after Scott Southard recently tendered his resignation following seven years on Hogan's staff at Southeast.

Southard, the Redhawks' associate head coach, will enter private business in his home town of Pensacola, Fla.

"Scott's the only associate head coach I've ever had since I've been a head coach, so that tells you what I think of him," Hogan said. "He's also the longest tenured assistant I've ever had anywhere.

"He did a super job. He has given us seven great years and been a tireless worker since he's been in the program. He's one of the best developers of talent I've had. I wish him and his family nothing but the best."

Added Hogan, "It's kind of like losing your offensive coordinator. He was our third base coach the last few years and did a great job. We have big shoes to fill looking for his replacement."

Southard, a former standout at South Alabama in the early 1990s who played in the minor leagues for a few seasons, said leaving Southeast was not an easy decision. But he feels it's the right one for he and his family, which includes wife Jo and two young children, 20-month-old Molly and 8-month-old Clete.

"It really was a tough decision because I really didn't want to get out of baseball. I love coaching it and I love it here," said the 34-year-old Southard. "But basically all of my extended family is back there -- parents, sister, brother. It's going home for me, where I grew up.

"And this is such a good opportunity, especially financially. You just don't make much as an assistant coach. With the addition of two kids, it was just hard not to take this job."

Southeast was Southard's first full-time coaching position after he spent two years as a volunteer assistant at South Alabama.

"The one thing I'll forever be grateful for is coach Hogan giving me my first paid opportunity," Southard said. "It's the hardest bench mark to get, that first stepping stone in college athletics."

Hogan said the university hopes to fill Southard's position as soon as possible. The Redhawks' other full-time assistant is pitching coach Jeff Dodson, who has been on staff the past three seasons.

"We're active with the search right now," Hogan said. "It will be interesting to see the pool of candidates we get."