1-24-14 Tjeerdsma StayingCoach T Stays

By JASON LAWRENCE

Sports editor

Things generally work out the way theyre supposed to, and Mel Tjeerdsma knows that, which is why hes content to stick around as the athletics director at Northwest Missouri State University.

Im very content with that fact that it didnt work out, Tjeerdsma said. My faith has always carried me through on these things, and the Lord has always put me where Im supposed to be, so I dont have any regrets at all.

Tjeerdsma, 67, had been rumored for days to have been selected as the next coach at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. But all of those rumors were dispelled Thursday when Sam Houston State AD Bobby Williams announced former Delaware coach K.C. Keeler as the 15th coach in Bearkat history.

Tjeerdsma was announced as one of the five finalists Sunday after first being linked to the job Saturday night by KBTX, a Bryan, Texas, television station.

Tjeerdsma said Monday that it was an attractive job due to the programs recent successes under former Central Missouri coach Willie Fritz, who led the Bearkats to the FCS title game in 2011 and 2012.

This looked like a perfect situation, Tjeerdsma said. Im not out pursuing coaching jobs. I mean, sure, I miss it, but thats just part of life. Im very happy with the job that I have. I was approached about this. It looked like a great situation. One thing that Ive never been able to do is move up a level from Division II, and this was going to provide that. And it wasnt a rebuilding project, it was a very good program. Thats the only reason I got into it and I dont regret that.

Tjeerdsma, who returned to Northwest in 2013 as AD, retired from coaching in 2012 with a career record of 242-59-4 over 27 seasons. In 17 years at Northwest, Tjeerdsma went 183-43 with 12 MIAA titles and three national titles.

Tjeerdsma returned to Maryville Wednesday after interviewing for the position Tuesday, and said he felt the job slipping away during the Northwest basketball double-header Wednesday night even though social media reports linked him to the job.

Turns out, he was right.

Theres a lot of unfounded reports, Tjeerdsma said. Thats one of the dangers of social media. Theres ultimately, in universities, one decision-maker, and I didnt get past the final decision-maker. I think at the point that all of that came out, it looked like everything was going to be a go, but it didnt turn out that way.

Keeler, 54, was recently fired at Delaware two years into a 10-year contract after going 5-6 last year. He led Delaware to the FCS National Championship in 2003 and also reached the title game in 2007 and 2010 to go along with a career record of 174-73, including an 86-52 mark at Delaware.

One of the things that jumps out at you first is Coach Keelers record at the FCS level, Sam Houston Director of Athletics Bobby Williams said in a release. Not only has he won a national championship, but he has returned to the championship game two other times. He has a track record of building a program and then continuing that success.

Tjeerdsma had been listed as a lock for the position by several outlets on social media Tuesday and Wednesday, but after the dust settled all those reports proved incorrect, and Tjeerdsma will be staying in Maryville, where he says he remains committed to Bearcat athletics.

My No. 1 goal is to see all of our programs be successful, Tjeerdsma said. Weve got great coaches and they work hard. As an athletic director, theres a lot of ways to measure success, but one of the ways is in the win-loss column. Theyre doing everything they can, and we want to provide them with the best opportunities, the best facilities, everything that we can do to make this a great program for our coaches, student athletes and fans.