Southeast Missouri State athletic director John Shafer announced his retirement at the end of this month. Shafer replaced Don Kaverman in 2008 after a series of NCAA violations in the basketball program. Shafer’s number one goal was to change the image of the school. The football team bounced back from a 2-9 record in 2009 to a 10-3 record last season and Shafer also saw the upgrades to several campus athletic facilities.

Citing the need to spend more time with his family, Shafer has more than 40 years of experience as an athletics administrator.