Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team makes changes to staff

~ Two assistants will not return to the Southeast men's basketball program

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will have a new look to its coaching staff in the 2012-13 season.

Southeast coach Dickey Nutt confirmed Thursday that two of his three assistants, Kyle Gerdeman and Jeremy Case, will not be back with the program next year.

Sources said that Nutt wants to go in another direction with his coaching staff. Nutt declined further comment.

"Obviously it's disappointing because we felt like we were making progress," said Gerdeman, who indicated that he did not have the option of returning. "But as a head coach he's got the right to make the decisions he feels are best.

"I enjoyed my time here and my family enjoyed it. I appreciate all the support I had here from the administration."

Gerdeman and Case both have been at Southeast for all three of Nutt's seasons, along with top assistant Jamie Rosser, who is expected to remain with the Redhawks.

Gerdeman, a 1998 Southeast graduate, received his first Division I coaching opportunity with the Redhawks. He previously had spent more than a decade in the junior college ranks.

"I've been doing this [coaching] for 14 years. There are good times and not so good times. This is just part of it," said Gerdeman, who hopes to be back in the coaching ranks soon. "I have my eyes on a couple of jobs I feel pretty good about."

Case, a four-year player at Kansas -- he was a member of the Jayhawks' 2007-08 national championship team -- served as a graduate assistant at Kansas for one season before joining the Redhawks.

Case could not be reached for comment. Case and Gerdeman's contracts at Southeast run through the end of this month.

Recruiting update

Nutt said it's unlikely the Redhawks will sign any players during the NCAA's spring signing period that begins Wednesday.

Nutt didn't rule out adding more players to next season's roster, although if Waylon Jones is granted a final year of eligibility by the NCAA -- which is expected -- then all of Southeast's 13 scholarships for 2012-13 will be accounted for.

That's assuming all the non-seniors return next season and all three early high school signees qualify academically.

"We have our eyes on a couple of guys, but at this time I don't anticipate anybody signing early," Nutt said.