SOUTHEAST IDs NEW AD; KAVERMAN ANNOUNCED AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Southeast Missouri State University's new athletic director joked Friday that he "gave up white tape for red tape."

Donald Kaverman, director of athletics at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, was introduced as Southeast's athletic director during an afternoon ceremony at the University Center.

Kaverman, who will begin his duties in Cape Girardeau Feb. 1, spent 11 years as an athletic trainer before switching gears and getting into athletic administration. Hence, his comment about the tape.

"I enjoyed my time as an athletic trainer, but I think I always wanted to get into administration," he said.

The 44-year-old Kaverman, with his wife Sue by his side, was formally introduced by Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast's executive vice president. Various Southeast administrators, coaches, faculty, boosters and members of the media were on hand.

"Don brings with him an impressive background in athletic administration, particularly in the areas of fiscal responsibility, gender equity and support of student-athletes," said Dobbins. "We're extremely happy to have him."

Kaverman signed a two-year contract at $79,000 per year.

Kaverman has been athletics director at Missouri Western since 1995. He served as associate director of athletics for business and financial affairs at San Diego State University from 1992 to 1995 and was associate director of athletics for student-athlete services at San Diego State from 1988 to 1992.

Kaverman, who graduated from Michigan State University with a master's degree in physical education and a bachelor's degree in business administration, spent 11 years in the athletic training field, starting in 1976 at Northwestern University.

From 1977 to 1980, Kaverman was an assistant athletic trainer for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was also coordinator of sports medicine at Ferris State University from 1980 to 1986 and head athletic trainer at San Diego State from 1986 to 1988.

"I am delighted to be here," said Kaverman as he addressed the gathering in the University Center's Indian Room. "On my first visit to Cape Girardeau a little over a week ago, I knew this is the job I wanted. I'm looking forward to getting started."

Kaverman said his immediate goal is to help make Southeast the top athletic program in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"From the talks I've had with the coaches here, I know they want to make Southeast Missouri the best program in the Ohio Valley Conference and that's my immediate goal. We want to be the best," he said. "I think there is tremendous potential here. There is so much happening here."

Kaverman said there is an expectation of winning in all sports at an athletic program like Southeast. He wants to win -- and in the right way.

"I think there is an expectation of winning here. We want to win and do it the right way," he said. "We want to have this be a positive experience for student-athletes."

Kaverman sees some of his major functions as an athletic director this way:

"I want to figure out a way to help coaches so they can be successful. And I want to make sure student-athletes have a good experience. That's what I'm all about."

Under Kaverman's tenure at Missouri Western, he facilitated numerous capital improvements for athletics and increased fund-raising by more than 30 percent. He also created an educational partnership where both student-athletes and coaches serve as tutors and mentors to local elementary school students and increased awareness regarding gender equity concerns on campus.

Kaverman was chosen from a field of four finalists who recently visited the Southeast campus for interviews.

Southeast launched a new national search for an athletic director last summer. Carroll Williams has been serving as interim athletic director at Southeast since the spring of 1997, when Richard McDuffie resigned to accept a position as athletic director at Eastern Illinois University.

Dobbins had special praise for Williams, saying, "We thank Carroll for all the hard work he's done as our interim athletic director."