--April 7th, 2026--
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) Led by new Director of Athletics P.D. Quick, who was hired just over two weeks ago after the resignation of Brady Barke, Southeast Missouri has not renewed the contract of head coach Brad Korn after a disastrous 63-114 record at the school, essentially firing him after six seasons. Along with former assistant Sam McMahon, who resigned after the season concluded, Korn was in the center of the NCAA investigation that concluded after the 2025 season, resulting in a loss of half of their scholarship allotment for the 2025-2026 recruiting cycle.
They were only able to use two scholarships out of a potential four last year, signing three-star forward Landon Wallace out of Bowman, N.D., one of the top five players in that state, in November. They also landed transfer Syniker Andrews from IUPUI, a six-foot-seven center who will become eligible this upcoming season. With just eleven scholarship players in the fold last year, they went 7-22 and finished last in the OVC.
The two other scholarships will carry over into the next season, where the next coach will have four to work with. The program will remain on probation through this season as part of the punishment handed down by the NCAA, but have no further loss of scholarships; nor a postseason ban. Quick has announced his intention to carry out a national search for a head coach.
"We believe there is potential for a program here that can finish in the upper half of this league and compete for conference titles on a yearly basis," he said in announcing the non-renewal of Korn's contract. "Beginning today, we will conduct a nationwide search for the next basketball coach here at Southeast, and will do it as quickly and efficiently as possible."
Back in 2025, the conclusions from the NCAA also found that Korn knew about impermissable benefits that were handed out to four current players -- center Brad Hayes and guards Andre Craig, Ryan Strong, and Rick Smith. These benefits were eventually found out to be unapproved meals. Hayes and Craig were still high school recruits at the time.
Smith, a senior during the 2024-2025 season, was also provided a small amount of cash in the form of gas money for an unscheduled trip home to take care of a family matter during that season; which despite good intentions, is not allowed per NCAA regulations. The staffer that was named as the alleged provider of the cash was McMahon, who had been on administrative leave until his resignation. A whistleblower in the department came forward to kick off the investigation; it is unclear who that staffer is, or whether they are still employed at the university.