Southeast Missouri State University assistant women's basketball coach Alan Eads is among three finalists for the school's head coaching position vacated by Ed Arnzen, who retired after 19 seasons.

Eads, along with Missouri Western State College coach David Slifer and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M coach B.J. Smith, will be in Cape Girardeau over the next several days for on-campus interviews, part of which will be open to the public.

"We feel we have three excellent candidates who all have outstanding records as head women's college coaches," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said. "All three will go through day-long campus interviews."

Kaverman, who heads the selection committee, said the interviews Monday, Tuesday and Thursday will include meetings with the search committee, athletic department coaches and staff members, members of the women's basketball team, booster club members, the public and media. The three finalists will also meet individually with Southeast president Ken Dobbins.

Interviews open to public

The public is invited to meet the candidates from 3-4 p.m. at the University Center. Smith will be interviewed on Monday, Slifer on Tuesday and Eads on Thursday.

"We look forward to bringing them in for extensive interviews," Kaverman said. "We feel like these three candidates really distinguished themselves from a very good pool of candidates. We had a lot of interest, as I thought there would be."

Eads, who has been an assistant at Southeast since 1995, compiled a 199-37 record in eight seasons at Moberly (Mo.) Area Community College from 1986-94. He led Moberly to eight conference championships and five junior college national tournament appearances, placing third in 1987 and fifth in 1988.

Slifer's Missouri Western team entered NCAA Division II regional playoffs this weekend ranked No. 1 nationally with a 27-2 record. Slifer, who is 160-51 in seven seasons at Missouri Western, has led the Griffons to six straight Division II tournament appearances. He also went 189-28 in seven seasons at Mount Mercy College, including five trips to the NAIA national tournament.

Smith's Northeastern Oklahoma A&M team was 29-0 and ranked No. 1 nationally among junior colleges entering regional play. In three seasons at Northeastern, Smith is 92-6 and his squads have never been ranked lower than fourth in the nation. He has also been the head coach at North Arkansas College.

Kaverman said he hopes to name a new coach during the week beginning March 18.

"This is a critical time, since the recruiting contact period started March 1 and we have six scholarships to award for next year," Kaverman said. "It's important we bring this process to a speedy conclusion."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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