Former NIU men’s basketball coach Jim Molinari was named the new men’s basketball coach for Western Illinois University on Friday.

Molinari coached the Huskies from 1989-91. In two seasons, the coach posted a record of 42-17 (.712).

In 1991 Molinari led the Huskies to the Mid-Continent Conference title. That season, NIU went 25-6, setting a school record for wins. The Huskies would go on to the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, losing 75-68 in the first round to St. John’s University.

Molinari hasn’t been a permanent head coach since the 2001-2002 season with Bradley University. During the 2006-2007 season, Molinari served as the University of Minnesota’s interim coach.

“I feel like I’m at home,” Molinari said at a WIU press conference. “This is where I belong; these are my roots. I have known Western and have had a great experience and feel for it.”
Molinari leaves his position as an assistant coach at Ball State University after a one-year stay.

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