MCDUFFIE DEPARTS FOR EIU

Dr. Richard McDuffie, athletic director at Southeast Missouri State University the past eight years, accepted the AD position at Eastern Illinois on Wednesday.

McDuffie was presented as EIU's new athletic director during an afternoon press conference at Charleston, home of EIU.

At Southeast, Dr. Ken Dobbins, executive vice president of the university, formally announced McDuffie's resignation. Dobbins said that Carroll Williams will serve as the interim athletic director at Southeast.

Dobbins said Southeast is fortunate to have Williams available for the position, citing his knowledge of the athletic department, coaches and boosters.

Williams, currently the men's golf coach, has served in a number of capacities at Southeast over the past 42 years. He was head basketball coach from 1975 to 1981, assistant basketball coach from 1970 to 1975 and assistant baseball coach from 1966 to 1967. He has been the men's golf coach since 1991.

"He really has a love for Southeast and he's dedicated to that," said Dobbins. "With that kind of individual we won't miss a beat."

Dobbins said a search committee will be formed in the next two weeks and hopes a permanent athletic director will be in place by July.

McDuffie held the athletic director position at Southeast since July 1989. During that period, Southeast moved from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I.

"Going to Division I from Division II is very difficult," said Dobbins. "People think you can do that overnight, but it takes planning by the coaches, administration and student athletes. And I think we made that transition very well."

During McDuffie's tenure, Southeast joined the Ohio Valley Conference and fared well on numerous fronts. Southeast completed the first phase of the gender equity plan and has seen its women's team excel in the OVC. Southeast has won the women's OVC all-sport award the past two seasons.