coaching staff - Western Illinois

media information
12...... Head Coach Jim Molinari
15...... Q&A with Coach Molinari
16...... Assistant Coach Wade Hokenson
17...... Assistant Coach Billy Wright
18...... Graduate Assistant Coach Austin Johnson
...... Student Assistants
2008-09 LEATHERNECK BASKETBALL
meet the coaches
11 Meet the Coaches
www.wiuathletics.com 11
coaching staff
Head Coach Jim Molinari
J
im Molinari brings 28 years of NCAA
Division I coaching experience to the
Leathernecks, compiling a 223-186
(.545) career record in 14 years as a head
coach. He served last season as an assistant
coach at Ball State, following a three-year
stint at Minnesota in which he was the interim
head coach for most of the 2006-07 season.
Throughout his career he has appeared in 19
postseason tournaments, including seven as a
head coach.
In his first season as an assistant at Minnesota,
his defensive emphasis helped the Gophers rank
third in Big Ten scoring defense (62.7 points per
game), just a half-point behind Michigan State
and two points behind Illinois. They led the
league in field goal percentage defense (.424)
and three-point field goal percentage defense
(.274) in conference play, and allowed 62.9
points per league game, the fewest since the
1981-82 season. In 2005, Street & Smith’s
named Molinari the “best assistant in the Big
Ten Conference.”
For 11 seasons, from 1991-2002, Molinari was
the head coach at Bradley University, where he
amassed a 174-152 (.534) record and guided
the Braves to the postseason six times - five
National Invitation Tournament appearances and
the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
From 1989-91, he was the head coach at Northern Illinois, where he posted a record of 42-17
(.712). The Huskies won the 1991 Mid-Continent Conference title, going 25-6 and setting a school
record for wins.
At DePaul from 1979-89, Molinari helped both Ray and Joey Meyer return the Blue Demons to national
prominence. Over 10 seasons at DePaul, Molinari helped recruit college and professional stars such
as Mark Aguirre, Dallas Comegys, Tyrone Corbin, Terry Cummings and Rod Strickland -- players who
led DePaul to nine NCAA Tournaments and a runner-up finish in the NIT.
A Defensive Mindset That Turns Programs Around
A two-time conference coach of the year -- 1991 Mid-Continent Conference and 1996 Missouri Valley
Conference -- Molinari’s coaching success was built on defense. While averaging better than 17 wins per
season, Molinari’s first 12 teams finished among the nation’s top 24 defensive squads 10 times.
In his two years at NIU, his teams finished fifth and second, respectively, in team defense on the
national level. In his first nine years at Bradley, the Braves placed among the nation’s leaders in all
but two seasons for either points allowed per game or field goal percentage allowed.
At Northern, Molinari inherited a program that had not won as many as 17 games in a season since
1981, but made a quick turnaround with a 17-win season followed by a 25-win campaign. At Bradley,
he took over a program that managed just a 32-54 mark in the three previous years. He needed just
two years to right the ship before beginning a three-year stretch of 20-win seasons, which included
two trips to the NIT and one to the NCAA Tournament. He left Bradley with more league wins than
any other active coach in the Missouri Valley.
Academic Focus
Molinari has graduated nearly 90 percent of his student-athletes during his head coaching career,
and while at Bradley, 24 out of 26 senior student-athletes received their degrees.
Molinari earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1977 and earned
a Juris Doctor from DePaul in 1980.
Western Illinois first-year head coach
Jim Molinari (223-186, .545) brings 28 years
of Division I experience with 19 postseason
tournament appearances.
12 WESTERN ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
coaching staff
4Coaching Experience
His college playing career began at Kansas State,
where he teamed with current UNLV head coach
Lon Kruger for two seasons. After transferring to
Illinois Wesleyan, where he teamed with former
NBA center Jack Sikma, Molinari helped the
Titans win consecutive league titles, before
entering the coaching ranks in 1978 as a parttime assistant with DePaul.
Additional Coaching Opportunities
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience,
Molinari is a veteran of national selection
committees for international competition. He led
the 1997 USA Basketball men’s team to a gold
medal at the World University Games played in
Trapani, Italy.
For two years between collegiate coaching
positions, Molinari was an NBA scout for the
Toronto Raptors (2002-03) and Miami Heat
(2003-04).
the molinari file
As a Player
Western Illinois, head coach.... 2008-09 is first season
Ball State, assistant coach............................ 2007-08
Minnesota, interim head coach...................... 2006-07
Minnesota, assistant coach........................... 2004-06
Bradley, head coach................................... 1991-2002
Northern Illinois, head coach.......................... 1989-91
DePaul, assistant coach................................. 1979-89
4Education
DePaul, Juris Doctor.............................................1980
Illinois Wesleyan, bachelor’s degree.....................1977
Glenbard West High School...................................1973
4Playing Experience
Illinois Wesleyan............................................. 1975-77
Kansas State.................................................. 1973-75
4Personal
28 Years of NCAA Division I Coaching Experience
Year 2007-08
2006-07
2005-06
2004-05
2001-02
2000-01
1999-00
1998-99
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96 1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
1986-87
1985-86
1984-85
1983-84
1982-83
1981-82
1980-81
1979-80
School
Ball State
Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Bradley
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
DePaul
Total as head coach
Position
Assistant Coach
Head Coach (interim)
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
(14 seasons)
Record
6-24
7-17
16-15
21-11
9-20
19-12
14-16
17-12
15-14
17-13
22-8 20-10
23-8 11-16
7-23
25-6
17-11
26-12
22-8
28-3
18-13
19-10
27-3
21-12
26-2
27-2
26-2
223-186
Postseason
NCAA Tournament
NIT
NIT
NIT
NIT
NCAA Tournament
NIT
NIT
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NIT runners-up
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
Born.............................................. December 27, 1954
Hometown.............................................. Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Family ...............................Sons Mark, Billy and David
. ...............................................................Daughter Joy
4Postseason Appearances
12 NCAA appearances (2 as head coach)
7 NITs appearances (5 as head coach)
5 NCAA Tournaments
2 NITs
www.wiuathletics.com 13
coaching staff
Q & A with Coach Molinari
4Has 28 years of Division I coaching experience.
4Compiled a 223-186 career record in 14 years as a
head coach.
including 12 NCAA appearances.
career highlights
4Has had 19 postseason tournament appearances
4Coached Bradley to a 1996 Missouri Valley
Championship title.
4Coached Northern Illinois to a 1991 Mid-Continenet
Conference Championship title.
4Was a two-time conference coach of the year in the
Missouri Valley (1996) and the Mid-Continent
Conference (1991).
4Named “best assistant in the Big Ten Conference” in
2005 by Street and Smith’s.
4Ranked third in Big Ten Scoring defense (2004-05).
4Notable recruits by Molinari: Mark Aguirre, Dallas
Comegys, Tyrone Corbin, Terry Cummings and
Rod Strickland.
4Has graduated nearly 90 percent of his
student-athletes during his head coaching
career.
4Led the 1997 USA Basketball men’s team to a
gold medal at the World University Games played in
Trapani, Italy.
14 WESTERN ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
4What is your leadership style and coaching philosophy?
My leadership style is basically that you attach your goals to your values. I believe in making such things
as effort, discipline, unity, and humility as goals for each of our young men. I also want our players to
grow in four ways: athletically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. I help them do that by providing
them with structure and by building strong relationships with each athlete. A leader once said that in
this day and age, “rules without relationships lead to rebellion.” Therefore, all of my discipline and
teaching must flow out of an open and honest relationship with each individual.
My coaching philosophy is based on defense, sharing the basketball, and individual workouts outside
of our team workouts - the greater the sacrifice the greater the victories. So we teach our young men
to appreciate the struggle in trying to become a championship-level player and team.
4With 28 years of Division I coaching experience, how are you
different today from when you first started coaching?
Basically my philosophy has stayed the same. I firmly believe that you do not have a philosophy unless
you stick with it in both good and bad times. I do believe, though, that like most other coaches,
the importance of recruiting has become paramount. Players, not plays, are what allow you to be
successful.
4What types of goals have the coaching staff and team set for this season?
As I mentioned earlier, we want to grow in the core values on and off the court. We want to do
everything with great effort. We want to surrender our individual goals for the team/group goal. We
want to show great discipline in both little and big things. We want to view all things and relationships
with humble eyes so we are focused not on our rights but our responsibilities. We want to be thankful
for the opportunity to coach and play at such a great university and we will show that appreciation by
practicing those values on and off the court.
coaching staff
Q & A with Coach Molinari
4In your first year as head coach, what do you bring to Western Illinois?
Obviously I think I bring many different experiences at the highest level as a head coach and as an
assistant. I have been part of teams that went to 12 NCAA tournaments and seven NIT’s and I have
been around to watch the development of numerous college players who have gone on to play at the
next level, whether it be the NBA or overseas. Being an attorney, I have also seen the value of what
a meaningful degree, like a degree from Western Illinois, achieved in the right way, can lead to in
any profession.
“Jim is a lifelong friend. He has incredible knowledge about the
game and the people skills to teach it!”
4Mike Krzyzewski Head Coach, Duke
4What made you want to be a part of the Western Illinois
program?
4What is needed to take this program to the next level?
We have to totally change the culture at Western. The program has won 40 games in the last five
years so we have to establish a culture where winning is the norm. We can only do that by improving
our recruiting, our overall character, our academic performance, and establishing a great unity on
and off the court. Academically, there is a need to reestablish our APR. We also have to continue to
improve our facilities because young people are very visual in the recruiting process. We also need to
greatly improve our attendance at home by attracting more students and people from the community.
To be successful in college basketball, you have to make the home environment one that leads to
consistent victory.
4Who is the ideal Western Illinois basketball player?
Someone who cares about his character, wants a degree, and wants to be a part of a team that will
sacrifice and care for each other in pursuit of victories on and off the court. College basketball is a
game of urgency so he must have a passion and a desire to grow in all areas as a student-athlete.
Finally, he must be teachable on the court and in the classroom. Many people leave college with
a degree these days, but few leave with an attitude based on effort, discipline and the ability to
overcome obstacles. We want them to have the confidence when they leave here to be comfortable in
any environment because of that type of attitude.
asking around
Having been a head coach at two other Illinois schools, Northern Illinois and Bradley, and having spent
all but four years of my college coaching career in Illinois, made me think it was a very good fit. Many
of my decisions, whether they be professional or personal, are based on something that not only is
right, but feels right. Also, having been a part of two rebuilding situations, like Northern Illinois and
Bradley, I enjoy the great challenge of trying to make a program better in every area.
“Coach Molinari is an excellent teacher of the game. His teams
are always very well prepared and play with the highest level
of intensity.”
4Lon Kruger Head Coach, UNLV
“I’ve known Jim for a long time and he is one of the best
defensive coaches in our game today. He will bring a lot of
excitement to Macomb that will please the alumni and fans of
Western Illinois. Jim is very well respected by his peers.”
4Bill Self Head Coach, Kansas
“Coach Molinari is a big reason for the success that I have had
on the court. However, the lessons I took from him off the court
have shown to be far more important.”
4Anthony Parker Guard-Forward, Toronto Raptors
www.wiuathletics.com 15
coaching staff
Billy Wright
Assistant Coach | First Season
4Coaching Experience
W. Illinois, assistant coach.......2008-09 is first season
Pike High School, head coach..........................2006-08
Pike High School, assistant coach...................2002-06
Ben Davis High School, asst. coach............1996-2001
South Wayne Junior High, assist. coach......1996-2001
4Education
4Playing Experience
the wright file
Bradley, bachelor’s degree.................................... 1996
Indianapolis, Secondary Endorsement.................. 1999
Bradley............................................................1993-96
Missouri Valley First-Team All-Conference.......1995-96
MVC All-Defensive Team..................................1994-96
MVC All-Freshman Team.................................1993-94
4Personal
Born............................................. September 15, 2008
Hometown............................................ Richmond, Ind.
16 WESTERN ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
B
illy Wright joins the Western Illinois men’s
basketball staff after a 12-year coaching
stint, including two years as a head coach,
at the high school level in Indianapolis.
In his first season as the head coach for Pike
High School, Wright led the squad to the 2007
sectional title with a 20-5 record. Prior to his
head coaching duties at Pike, Wright served as
an assistant coach for 10 years under two hall
of fame coaches, Steve Witty (Ben Davis) and
Larry Bullington (Pike).
As the assistant at Pike from 2002-06, he helped
guide the Red Devils to a class 4A state title in
2003 with an undefeated record (29-0) and a
No. 2 national ranking. He also helped bring
home three conference titles in four seasons
(2002-05) and in his first season saw the team
finish as the class 4A state runner-up.
From 1996-2001, Wright served as the assistant
boys’ basketball coach at Ben Davis High School.
He led the junior varsity team to a combined 337 record with back-to-back county championship
appearances.
Wright has also gained experience in coaching
at many basketball camps at the university
level, including Ohio State, Illinois, Xavier,
Cincinnati, Bradley and Butler. Outside the
university level, Wright also coached at the
Michael Jordan Basketball Camp, the Dick
Baumgartner Shooting Camp and several high
school level camps.
A 2007 inductee into the Bradley University Hall
of Fame, Wright played under Jim Molinari at
Bradley from 1993-96. In his senior campaign,
he was named to the Missouri Valley AllConference First Team while helping the Braves
to a MVC title and an appearance in the NCAA
Tournament. Additionally, Wright was selected
to the MVC All-Defensive Team for three straight
years (1994-96). In his freshman campaign,
Wright was named to the MVC All-Freshman
Team.
In addition to scoring 909 points in his four-year
career for the Braves, Wright finished his career
ranked third all-time in the Bradley record books
with 595 career assists and 219 career steals.
Wright earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
elementary education from Bradley and earned
his secondary endorsement from the University of
Indianapolis, allowing him to teach U.S. history,
world history and psychology.
coaching staff
Wade Hokenson
Assistant Coach | First Season
W
ade Hokenson enters his first season
with the Western Illinois basketball
team after spending the two previous
seasons as the first assistant coach at
Bellevue University.
After compiling a 32-2 record with both the
conference regular-season and tournament titles
in his first season at Bellevue, Hokenson saw the
team finish the regular season ranked No. 1 in
the 2007 NAIA Division II regular-season poll.
In addition to his regular coaching duties,
Hokenson also served as the strength and
conditioning coach and academic advisor.
Prior to his time at Bellevue, Hokenson spent
one season as the graduate assistant coach for
the Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball team.
He was named the head junior varsity coach
and strength and conditioning coach, while
assisting in directing and coaching the Little
Tigers Basketball Clinic and Dakota Wesleyan
Boys’ Basketball Team Camp.
4Coaching Experience
W. Illinois, assistant coach...... 2008-09 is first season
Bellevue, assistant coach.............................. 2006-08
Dakota Wesleyan, graduate assistant coach......... 2005-06
As a player, Hokenson was a point guard on the
University of Minnesota’s basketball team from
2001-04. He was honored as a scholar athlete
for the Golden Gophers in each of his seasons and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten
Team in 2004. He guided the 2003 squad to the
Final Four of the NIT, while the 2001 and 2002
teams advanced to the NIT’s second round.
In December of 2004, Hokenson received his
Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical
engineering from Minnesota and earned his
master’s degree in curriculum and instruction
from Dakota Wesleyan in July of 2007.
the hokenson file
In 2008, Bellevue held a record of 33-4 and
entered the NAIA Division II National Tournament
as the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive
season. With the Midlands Collegiate Athletic
Conference regular-season and championship
tournament titles, the team finished the season
with a No. 3 ranking in the final NAIA Division
II regular-season poll.
Hokenson also gained experience as a camp
instructor at the University of Nebraska and
the Dan Monson Basketball Shooting Camp in
Minnesota.
4Education
Minnesota, bachelor’s degree...............................2004
Dakota Wesleyan, master’s degree.......................2007
4Playing Experience
University of Minnesota.................................. 2001-04
Scholar-Athlete............................................... 2001-04
Academic All-Big Ten...........................................2004
NIT Final Four ......................................................2003
NIT Second Round ......................................... 2001-02
4Personal
Born..................................................October 11, 1980
Hometown.........................................Watertown, Minn.
Family..................................................... wife Amanda
daughter Harper
www.wiuathletics.com 17
coaching staff
Basketball Staff
Austin Johnson
Austin Johnson joins the 2008-09 Leatherneck coaching staff as the
graduate assistant coach after a brief stint as assistant coach at Odessa
College in Odessa, Texas.
Originally from Wichita, Kan., Johnson spent a redshirt season at Butler
Community College before playing at Oklahoma Wesleyan from 2005-08.
At Wesleyan, he was a two-year starter and scored 1,207 career points with
over 250 three-point field goals. As a senior captain, Johnson helped his
team to its best-ever record, 26-8, its first appearance in the NAIA National
Tournament and Sweet 16 appearance.
graduate assistant coach • first season
Off the court, Johnson is active in volunteer/ministry work through the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action. He has worked
basketball camps at Bradley, Wyoming, Drake, South Florida, and Texas, as
well as smaller camps throughout the Midwest.
Johnson’s duties with the Western Illinois men’s basketball program include
film exchange, assisting in day-to-day operations and offering academic
assistance to the players. In addition to playing a role on the coaching staff,
Johnson is pursuing a master’s degree in sport management.
Johnson was a two-time all-conference selection in the Midlands Collegiate
Athletic Conference and was named 2007-08 Oklahoma Wesleyan Male
Athlete of the Year. Johnson earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors and was
named to the dean’s list at Oklahoma Wesleyan. He graduated in 2008 with
a degree in business marketing.
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Chris Anderson
Anderson spent two years as an assistant coach at Kansas State prior to
his appointment as head coach at Western Illinois in May 2006. At KState he was responsible for planning and supervising strength programs
for baseball, golf, volleyball and crew, while assisting in all facets of the
football strength program.
assistant coach at Idaho State (2000-01) and with the Cleveland Indians
minor league organization (2000).
Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Stanislaus in 1996,
and a master’s degree from Idaho State in 2002. He and his wife, Teri,
have a son, Chris.
Prior to his time in Manhattan, Kan., Anderson was at the University of Maine
for three years, including one as the interim head strength and conditioning
coach in charge of all 17 intercollegiate athletics teams. He also served as
Michael Blackburn
Michael Blackburn started at Western Illinois as an assistant athletic
trainer in September of 2007. He is responsible for working with the men’s
basketball, golf, and tennis teams at Western.
Blackburn is certified by the National Athletic Training Association (NATA)
and licensed by the state of Illinois.
Prior to joining the Western staff Blackburn served as an assistant athletic
trainer at Ferris State University for five years (2002-2007). His duties
18 WESTERN ILLINOIS BASKETBALL
Assistant Athletic Trainer
included working with the women’s volleyball and basketball teams, while
also serving as the director of medical coverage for summer camps.
The Medford, Wis., native received his bachelors degree in athletic training
from Winona State in 2000 and his masters in sport sciences in 2002 from
East Tennessee State.