SMU plans to name new coach

Friday, Dec. 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The Dallas Morning News, citing sources it did not identify, reported in today's editions that Cavan, who finished as runner-up for Division I-AA coach of the year, will be introduced at a news conference Saturday.

Dallas-Fort Worth television stations KXAS and KDFW also cited unidentified sources as saying Cavan was SMU's choice to succeed Rossley, fired Nov. 25 after compiling a 15-48-3 record in six seasons.

Copeland, who could not be reached by The Associated Press late Thursday, declined comment to the Morning News, as did Cavan. An SMU athletic department spokesman did not return a telephone call.

East Tennessee was 10-3 this year and reached the second round of the I-AA playoffs.

Cavan was named the Southern Conference coach of the year and finished second to Nicholls State coach Darren Barbier in voting for the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the top coach in I-AA.

Cavan's record in five seasons at East Tennessee is 30-27.

The Buccaneers had only eight winning seasons in 32 years before he arrived.

Cavan was a quarterback at Georgia from 1968-70 and later was a graduate assistant at the school.

He eventually was promoted to a full-time job and was the Bulldogs' offensive backfield coach for 11 years. Among his recruits was Herschel Walker.

In 1986, Cavan became coach at Valdosta State, where he was 37-22-2 in six seasons.

Copeland interviewed at least 10 candidates for the job, inviting five to the campus for formal interviews.

Cavan, the last to be interviewed, visited the school Wednesday.