MWSU President Elizabeth Kennedy announced Thursday that she will reopen the search for the University's next A.D. Stock photo by Brent Martin. By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe search for the next athletic director at Missouri Western State University has been paused, and will reopen early next year.University president Elizabeth Kennedy said in a statement late Thursday afternoon, "After careful review and consideration of our three finalists who visited campus earlier this month, and after consultation with many people on campus and in the community, we are pausing the search and will reopen the position in January."While all three candidates are highly qualified and capable people, none stood out as the right fit for Missouri Western at this time, and that needs to be our standard in all hiring decisions."The University named Franklin Pierce University athletic director Rachel Burleson, Illinois State associate A.D. of external affairs Dwight Merilatt and South D
Photo by Tommy Rezac. By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe third and final candidate for the Missouri Western athletic director job met with community members at the Fulkerson Center Thursday afternoon on campus.Joel Lueken, who's been the athletic director at Division II South Dakota School of Mines since 2014, says the Griffon A.D. job is a premiere DII job to have."I think Missouri Western is a flagship institution of Division II," Lueken said. "Having the ability to compete for championships is very intriguing to me. I can't see myself and my family being involved in anything other than collegiate athletics."Lueken and his wife, Melissa, are both Iowa natives and the chance to be closer to home is also appealing for their family.Lueken says being a member of the prestigious MIAA conference is also part of what makes the Missouri Western job so desirable."They compete in what I feel is one of the best, if not the best, conference in the country in the
Rachel Burleson. Photo by Brent Martin. By TOMMY REZAC and BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western State University has been seeking candidates to fill their vacant athletic director position since late July.They've narrowed their list down to three candidates.Each of the three candidates now go before the community this week to make their pitch for the job. The first candidate to speak Monday was Rachel Burleson, who's currently the A.D. at Division II Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.She previously served at MIAA schools Missouri Southern as the associate A.D. for compliance and internal operations and at Northwest Missouri State as the assistant softball coach. Burleson says her Interest in the MWSU job is two-fold. "Having been a competitor in the same league and having respect for the MIAA," she said, "and just the amount of, just as an outsider looking in, what Missouri Western has to offer. And again, having competed against them and knowi