CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Kenny Wilhite, who coached Southeast Missouri's defensive backs from 2006-2010, returns to the same position on the Redhawks football staff.

Wilhite spent the last two seasons as the secondary coach at Southland Conference member Central Arkansas. The Bears made their only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoff appearances (2011, 2012) with Wilhite on staff.

Prior to UCA, Wilhite helped lead Southeast to its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference title and NCAA Playoff berth in 2010. The Redhawks went 9-3 overall and 7-1 in the OVC, finishing with a No. 13 ranking in the final FCS Sports Network and Coaches Polls. Southeast led the league and ranked fourth in the FCS with 20 interceptions that year.

Wilhite's coaching career began at New Mexico State University under Tony Samuel following a successful playing career in the Canadian Football League. In 1996, Wilhite was a CFL All-Star and finished third behind Doug Flutie in the overall voting for the league's Player of the Year Award.

He went on to work as an assistant coach at Dodge City Community College, Emporia State and Kentucky State.

Wilhite played college football at the University of Nebraska under Tom Osborne. He was an All-Big Eight selection in 1991 after leading the conference in interceptions.

Wilhite signed as a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears in 1993 and began playing in the CFL with the Sacramento Goldminers. He is originally from St. Louis and is a 1992 graduate of Nebraska.

Powell Will Coach Wide Receivers


Powell enters his third year on Southeast's football coaching staff, previously working two seasons as a graduate assistant defensive line and special teams coach. He initially joined the staff as Director of Football Operations in 2010.

A native of Willingboro, N.J., Powell played cornerback for the Redhawks from 2006-09 and was a starter at his position the final three years of his career. He registered 98 tackles and two interceptions in 44 games and 33 starts at Southeast.

As a prep, Powell was an All-Conference and All-County defensive back at Willingboro High School.

He received a bachelor's degree in sport management from Southeast during the spring of 2010.