Rick Ray named new SEMO men's basketball coach

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Southeast Missouri State University has named Rick Ray as the next men's head basketball coach.

Rick Ray is the former head basketball coach at Mississippi State. He was fired from Mississippi State in March. He was the head coach of the Bulldogs for three years.

Ray worked as an assistant at Clemson, Purdue, Northern Illinois and Indiana State, according to a report from ESPN.

He becomes the 20th head men's basketball coach in the program's history.

He signed a four year contract that will run through 2019.

Ray says he will run the program with integrity and honesty. He says he was attracted to Southeast because of the Show Me Center, the availability of talent in local high schools, and the amenities that Cape Girardeau has to offer.

Ray says he will work to build relationships with the players and coaches.

Southeast President Ken Dobbins says the university interviewed 11 people and brought three candidates to the campus.

Southeast's men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt was let go on March 23.

He had a record of 80-108 and 41-59 in the Ohio Valley Conference in six seasons at Southeast.

The Redhawks finished the 2014-15 campaign at 13-17 and eighth in the OVC with a 7-9 mark.

Southeast made the OVC Tournament in five of Nutt's six years, but never advanced past the quarterfinals.

The team had two winning seasons under Nutt, going 17-16 in 2012-13 and 18-14 in 2013-14.

Jamie Rosser was named acting head coach until a replacement was named.

The women's basketball team is also without a head coach. Former women's head basketball coach Ty Margenthaler resigned March 31.

Assistant Coach Heather Ezell served as the acting head coach until a replacement is named.

The new coach is the eighth head coach in the women's program's history.

Southeast finished its 2014-15 season at 10-19 and tied for 10th in the OVC with a 3-13 mark.

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