Rachel Crader is the editor of semoball.com. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in May of 2009 before spending the summer covering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Highlights from Rachel's days in college include having a class down the hall from Chase Daniel and having NCAA wrestling champion Ben Askren hold the door open for her at Brady Commons, Mizzou's student center. She spent time covering Mizzou basketball, softball and baseball while working for the Columbia Missourian and is excited to return home to Southeast Missouri to cover local sports for semoball.com.

Rachel has covered three Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournaments for the Southeast Missourian and semoball.com, and she'll see you courtside again this year.

Updated: What I know about Southeast men's coaching announcement

Posted Monday, April 13, 2015, at 8:11 PM

As you've probably seen, Rick Ray has been named Southeast's coach. Initial story here. More to come. --- From earlier: All indications are that the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coaching job will come down to Virginia Tech assistant Issac Chew or former Mississippi State coach Rick Ray. (You can learn more about them here.) I've had two sources say Michigan State assistant Dwayne Stephens is no longer pursuing or being considered for the job. Both Chew and Ray are on campus this afternoon, but no decision has been made as of 3:30 p.m, according to my sources. Meanwhile an announcement is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center. Certainly a bit of an unorthodox way to go about things, but hopefully we'll know who the Redhawks next coach will be in a couple hours. --- From earlier: The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will have a new coach on Monday night. All of the details of the announcement can be found here. Here is what I know about the situation. Without a doubt, there are details I don't know, but I'm going to share what I know. Virginia Tech assistant Isaac Chew and former Mississippi State coach Rick Ray have been on campus the last two days as finalists for the job. ESPN reporter Jeff Goodman, a man in the know, tweeted earlier that a Michigan State assistant is also in the running. I have not heard this name but trust that Goodman has good sources.

Final three for Southeast Missouri State, per sources: Dwayne Stephens (Mich St.), Rick Ray (formerly of Miss St) and Isaac Chew (Va Tech).
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 13, 2015

Right now it's 2:07 p.m. and multiple sources have told me that not even the finalists know who will be chosen yet, which is interesting to say the least. I suppose making the decision so close to the announcement is one way to make sure no one finds out who it is... We'll continue providing updates as we get them.

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From Rick Ray's Wikipedia:

"On April 13, 2015, Ray was named as the 20th head coach for Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ray_(basketball)

-- Posted by whistleone on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 2:20 PM
My guess is that someone who saw him on campus updated that, but Chew is here as well. Apparently Ray was spotted by several people but Chew has stayed out of the public eye. Haha. Fans doing serious detective work! Can't wait to just know.

-- Posted by Rachel Crader on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 2:38 PM
If I had to choose in order it would be;

Stephens, Chew, then Ray.

I think all 3 would be good hires though.

-- Posted by arich35 on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 2:41 PM
Goodman said Stephens is passing on the job. Had to think that was coming.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:15 PM
Just don't see Ray taking the paycut... He would be losing at least $800k taking this position!

Just see Chew as a more likely candidate! Closer to his salary and a step up for him being a first time Head Coach!

We will see!!!

-- Posted by Haterade on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:40 PM
Well, Ray no longer has the million dollar job no matter what happens, so it's not really an $800K paycut. He could, however go by an assistant at a larger school and likely get paid $300-$350K.

-- Posted by Rachel Crader on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:45 PM
Yeah out of those final two I would have to go with Chew. That's a major paycut. Ray would be a steal though in my opinion, and I if I could chose I would pick Ray first.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:45 PM
That's two good points.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:46 PM
Here's a similar SEC situation. Tony Barbee who was let go at Auburn last year was making around 1.5 million. He joined UK's staff this year as a special assistant making about $150,000. (Although Auburn still owed him over 2 million). So he took a sizable "paycut". Even though he will probably get a huge salary increase with UK this year because it looks like he will get bumped up to assistant coach.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:51 PM
Context

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 3:58 PM
I disagree patk. Semo has won a much larger percentage of its conference games over the last few years than State.

None of us are qualified to speak on this subject because there's way to small of a sample size.

-- Posted by jwhitlock on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:08 PM
Maybe they could do a gameshow-style deal with the coaches behind big doors and a fan gets to choose which door to open.

-- Posted by MemphisBlues on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:40 PM
We've had lots of jokes about roses and The Bachelor on Twitter, but I could get behind the game show idea. Haha.

-- Posted by Rachel Crader on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:44 PM
Sounds like Corey Tate and Kim English are the assistants. That makes me believe it'll be Chew.

-- Posted by The Deuce on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:48 PM
where did you hear that they are the assistants?

-- Posted by RiceHarper on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:50 PM
My context reference refers to the situation that Ray had a MSU than what SEMO has had. I don't think less than 100 games is a great sample size. SEMO was having bad seasons with teams that everyone thought were laden with great talent (and they were), and really in a situation to compete and win a bunch of games. MSU was a downward spiraling program, in a harder conference, plagued by season ending injuries to their top players, and he finally was having some good recruits come in. That was a hard job. I just don't think he had the time at MSU to prove himself. SEMO on the other hand I feel had the time to compete, and I was not please with the recruiting either, we were like Memphis north campus. Again, I think Ray would be a steal and me personally I would be happy with the hire.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:50 PM
I think one of the most interesting angles of this opening is the career trajectory of the candidates. SEMO's last three hires--Garner, Edgar, and Nutt--had been let go at (somewhat marginally) higher level jobs: Garner at Drake, Edgar at Duquesne, and Nutt at Ark State. Ray would be the fourth one to have been let go at a higher level program (though Mississippi State is quite a bit more prestigious than the aforementioned three).

Contrast that to Murray State, which has consistently hired coaches on their way up, with (at least conceivably) the desire to prove themselves and keep climbing the ladder. It's been a contrast in approaches, for sure.

-- Posted by MemphisBlues on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 4:59 PM
Anyone who was a head coach or an assistant coach and does not have a job at this time of the year is nervous. Nearly all of them (even those with jobs) meet and search out the best opportunities at the final four. To be out of the game for a year if you don't find a job can be a career killer. So Ray could take the position just for that reason. But my bet is on Chew as well. Let's hope that SEMO gives the new coach the resources they need to improve.

-- Posted by citizen cyborg on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 5:01 PM
Looks like it is going to be Rick Ray

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 5:21 PM
If it's Ray, he's not necessarily taking a $800k pay cut. He still had 2 years left on his contract at $1 million a year. Haven't found specific details on what the buyout clause was, but even if it was 50% of the remaining amount he still will be getting what would essentially be $500k per year the next two years from MSU on top of what SEMO will pay him.

-- Posted by Crash Davis on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 5:26 PM
I say we get behind the new coach and support him and the program. How about a little "positivity"?

-- Posted by joefrank78 on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 5:33 PM
Patk I'm sorry that what I said went right over your head.

Joefrank i agree totally.

-- Posted by jwhitlock on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 5:36 PM
Let's go Ray to save the day haha! I think were getting a great coach if it's him.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 5:38 PM
Ray just owned the press conference. I'm pumped.

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 6:54 PM
based on the fact that they were garbage, we're trending upward this year, and he had a couple 4 star recruits signed for upcoming seasons.

-- Posted by RiceHarper on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 9:28 PM
What was Coach K's overall record at Army? How about Pat Summit at UT-Martin? Jerry Tarkanian at Long Beach St.? How about we give our new coach a chance, please. Thanks. GO REDHAWKS!

-- Posted by STRAIGHTOUTTACHARLESTON on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 9:33 PM
...Bobby Knight is not walking through that door...John Thompson, Sr. is not walking through that door...

-- Posted by STRAIGHTOUTTACHARLESTON on Mon, Apr 13, 2015, at 9:36 PM

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