Southeast Missouri St. fires AD, puts men's hoops coach on leave

Oct 10, 2008 - 5:16 AM CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri (Ticker) -- Following the revelation of numerous NCAA violations, Southeast Missouri State fired athletic director Don Kavernman and placed men's basketball coach Scott Edgar on leave, the school announced in a statement Thursday.

The moves were made three days after the Ohio Valley Conference school received a notice of allegations from the NCAA on October 6, alleging possible major violations by the men's and women's basketball programs.

In the wake of the news, the school fired Kavernman, relieving him of his duties until his contract expires on February 7, 2009. Associate athletic director Cindy Gannon was named as the interim AD although she will not become the permanent replacement.

Southeast Missouri State also put Edgar on administrative leave until the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions hears and then releases its findings on the case.

In the meantime, Edgar will retain his title while a yet-to-be named interim will assume all of his coaching duties.

"Southeast is extremely disappointed with these allegations," school president Kenneth Dobbins said in the statement. "We consider the allegations of NCAA infractions regarding our men's basketball program to be a matter of significant concern. Given the serious nature of the allegations, we believed we needed to take immediate action in the best interests of the program. We have in the past and will in the future cooperate fully with the NCAA's ongoing investigation."

Under the alleged violations, Edgar is accused of arranging for extra benefits for an athlete to assist in his enrollment, overseeing offseason workouts and providing "false and misleading information" to the school and the NCAA about the transgressions.

In two seasons with the Redhawks, Edgar had a record of 23-39.

Other allegations include a fifth-year women's basketball player receiving more than $7,000 in reimbursements for course expenses from a representative of the school's athletic department after her eligibility was complete.