Former Tennessee assistant men's basketball coach Scott Edgar finalized negotiations to become head coach at Southeast Missouri State Thursday.

"It's a blessing to be a head coach again,'' Edgar told the Southeastern Missourian. "I consider this program a sleeping giant. We can be regionally dominant and nationally competitive. I wanted to be a head coach again but only if it was the right place and a good fit.''

Former Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes and former Missouri assistant Jay Spoonhour were the other two finalists for the job.

"It was clear after reviewing the credentials of all the finalists, that there was one individual, Scott Edgar, who surfaced as the outstanding candidate among the three finalists,'' Don Kaverman, director of athletics at Southeast Missouri, said in a release. "We are delighted that coach Edgar has accepted the position.''

At UT, Edgar assisted in recruiting, preparing the scout team in practice and preparing scouting reports in Tennessee's three assistant rotation.

Tony Jones, the Vols' associate head coach, said after talking with coach Bruce Pearl Thursday, there's no timetable to find a replacement for Edgar.

"There's no rush,'' Jones said. "Bruce will make a well-informed decision. He'll talk it over with the staff, but obviously he'll make the final decision.

"It will be based on coaching background, loyalty traits, enthusiasm and a willingness to fit into an already cohesive unit.''

Edgar was coach at Murray State from 1991-1995, leading the Racers to a 79-40 record. Edgar's Murray State teams made two trips to the NCAA tournament in his four seasons and played in the NIT another year.

Edgar left his position as an assistant at Alabama-Birmingham a year ago to join Pearl, who was hired by UT after leading Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Sweet 16.

Jones said he has already heard from at least 15 coaches interested in the UT vacancy.

"It saddens me to lose Scott because this past year I gained a friend I'll cherish for a lifetime,'' Jones said. "Coming in, he wasn't a part of our Milwaukee family, but you'd have never known that. After a few short weeks the chemistry of our staff was evident, and it showed in the way our team played throughout the year.

"Southeast Missouri made a very well-informed and wise decision hiring Scott.''

Pearl could not be reached for comment.