The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team represents Western Illinois University of Macomb, Illinois, in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's college basketball competition. As of the 2023–24 NCAA season, the Leathernecks compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.[2]
| Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| University | Western Illinois University | ||
| First season | 1904 | ||
| All-time record | 557-789 (.414) | ||
| Athletic director | Paul Bubb | ||
| Head coach | Chad Boudreau (1st season) | ||
| Conference | Ohio Valley Conference | ||
| Location | Macomb, Illinois | ||
| Arena | Western Hall (Capacity: 5,139) | ||
| Nickname | Leathernecks | ||
| Student section | Purple Platoon | ||
| Colors | Purple and gold[1] | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
| NCAA tournament appearances | |||
| 1959*, 1980*, 1981* *at Division II level | |||
| NAIA tournament runner-up | |||
| 1954, 1958 | |||
| NAIA semifinals | |||
| 1954, 1955, 1958, 1962 | |||
| NAIA quarterfinals | |||
| 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1962 | |||
| NAIA tournaments | |||
| 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963 | |||
| Conference tournament champions | |||
| Mid-Cont: 1984 | |||
| Conference regular season champions | |||
| Mid-Cont: 1983 Summit: 2013 | |||
Western Illinois' first men's basketball team was fielded in 1904.[3] The Leathernecks men's basketball program made the transition from Division II to Division I beginning in the 1981–82 season. They were selected to play in the College Basketball Invitational tournament following the 2011–12 regular season, the first Division I postseason appearance in school history.[4] The Leathernecks were selected again to play in the College Basketball Invitational tournament after the 2012–13 season. The Leathernecks have never appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Season Results
Western Illinois' records season by season since joining Division I in 1981.[5]
| Season | Head Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division I Independent | |||||
| 1981–82 | Jack Margenthaler | 14–13 | 2–2 | - | – |
| Mid-Continent Conference | |||||
| 1982–83 | Jack Margenthaler | 20–11 | 9–3 | 1st of 8 | – |
| 1983–84 | Jack Margenthaler | 17–13 | 6–8 | 5th of 8 | – |
| 1984–85 | Jack Margenthaler | 14–14 | 10–4 | 2nd of 8 | – |
| 1985–86 | Jack Margenthaler | 13–15 | 7–7 | T-4th of 8 | – |
| 1986–87 | Jack Margenthaler | 12–16 | 2–12 | 8th of 8 | – |
| 1987–88 | Jack Margenthaler | 15–12 | 6–8 | 5th of 8 | – |
| 1988–89 | Jack Margenthaler | 9–19 | 4–8 | T-5th of 8 | – |
| 1989–90 | Jack Margenthaler | 16–13 | 6–6 | T-3rd of 8 | – |
| 1990–91 | Jack Margenthaler | 13–15 | 6–10 | T-6th of 9 | – |
| 1991–92 | Jack Margenthaler | 10–18 | 4–12 | 8th of 9 | - |
| 1992–93 | Jim Kerwin | 8–19 | 4–12 | 8th of 9 | – |
| 1993–94 | Jim Kerwin | 7–20 | 5–13 | 9th of 10 | – |
| 1994–95 | Jim Kerwin | 20–8 | 13–5 | 2nd of 10 | – |
| 1995–96 | Jim Kerwin | 17–12 | 12–6 | 2nd of 10 | – |
| 1996–97 | Jim Kerwin | 19–10 | 11–5 | T-2nd of 9 | – |
| 1997–98 | Jim Kerwin | 16–11 | 11–5 | T-3rd of 9 | – |
| 1998–99 | Jim Kerwin | 16–12 | 9–5 | T-3rd of 9 | – |
| 1999–00 | Jim Kerwin | 8–22 | 3–13 | T-9th of 9 | – |
| 2000–01 | Jim Kerwin | 5–23 | 5–11 | T-T-7th of 9 | - |
| 2001–02 | Jim Kerwin | 12–16 | 3–11 | 7th of 8 | – |
| 2002–03 | Jim Kerwin | 7–21 | 3–11 | 7th of 8 | – |
| 2003–04 | Derek Thomas | 3–25 | 1–15 | 9th of 9 | – |
| 2004–05 | Derek Thomas | 11–14 | 7–9 | T-5th of 9 | – |
| 2005–06 | Derek Thomas | 7–21 | 3–13 | 8th of 8 | – |
| 2006–07 | Derek Thomas | 7–23 | 3–11 | 7th of 8 | – |
| Summit League | |||||
| 2007–08 | Derek Thomas | 12–18 | 7–11 | 7th of 10 | – |
| 2008–09 | Jim Molinari | 9–20 | 6–12 | T-8th of 10 | – |
| 2009–10 | Jim Molinari | 13–17 | 6–12 | T-6th of 10 | – |
| 2010–11 | Jim Molinari | 7–23 | 2–16 | 9th of 10 | – |
| 2011–12 | Jim Molinari | 18–15 | 9–9 | 4th of 10 | CBI 1st Round |
| 2012–13 | Jim Molinari | 22–9 | 13–3 | T-1st of 9 | CBI 1st Round |
| 2013–14 | Jim Molinari | 10–20 | 4–10 | 7th of 8 | – |
| 2014–15 | Billy Wright | 8–20 | 3–13 | 9th of 9 | |
| 2015–16 | Billy Wright | 10–17 | 3–13 | 9th of 9 | – |
| 2016–17 | Billy Wright | 8–20 | 5–11 | 8th of 9 | – |
| 2017–18 | Billy Wright | 12–16 | 3–11 | 8th of 8 | – |
| 2018–19 | Billy Wright | 10–21 | 4–12 | 8th of 9 | – |
| 2019–20 | Billy Wright | 5–21 | 2–14 | 9th of 9 | – |
| 2020–21 | Rob Jeter | 7–15 | 5–9 | 7th of 9 | – |
| 2021–22 | Rob Jeter | 16–16 | 7–11 | 6th of 10 | TBC 1st Round |
| 2022–23 | Rob Jeter | 16–14 | 9–9 | 4th of 10 | - |
| Ohio Valley Conference | |||||
| 2023–24 | Chad Boudreau | 0–0 | 0–0 | of 11 | – |
| Totals | 42 Years 6 Coaches | 557-789 | 288-394 | 2 Conf. Championships | 3 Postseason Appearances |
Coaching history
Stats updated as of the end of the 2022–23 season
| Coach | Career | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis | 1910–1911 | 0–5 |
| Albert Walrath | 1911–1914 | 4–7 |
| E.S. Dowell | 1914–1915 | 8–0 |
| Erskine Jay | 1915–1920 | 14–24 |
| C.J. Roberts | 1920–1921 | 4–6 |
| Ray Haberman | 1921–1922 | 5–8 |
| Gerald Pugh | 1922–1923 | 8–4 |
| Howard Hawkes | 1923–1926 | 30–9 |
| Ralph Barclay | 1926–1929 | 39–23 |
| Ray Hanson | 1929–1941 | 185–85 |
| Wix Garner | 1941–1942 | 4–7 |
| Ralph Barclay | 1942–1943 | 8–5 |
| Bob Barnwell | 1943–1946 | 24–22 |
| Ray Hanson | 1946–1947 | 13–10 |
| Leroy "Stix" Morley | 1947–1969 | 365–215 |
| Guy Ricci | 1969–1973 | 44–58 |
| Walt Moore | 1973–1977 | 46–57 |
| Jack Margenthaler | 1977–1992 | 221–202 |
| Jim Kerwin | 1992–2003 | 135–174 |
| Derek Thomas | 2003–2008 | 40–104 |
| Jim Molinari | 2008–14 | 79–104 |
| Billy Wright | 2014–2020 | 53–115 |
| Rob Jeter | 2020–2023 | 39–45 |
| Chad Boudreau | 2023–present | 0–0 |
| Totals | 1,368–1,289 | |
Postseason
CBI results
The Leathernecks have appeared in two College Basketball Invitationals. Their combined record is 0–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | First Round | Oregon State | L 59–80 |
| 2013 | First Round | Purdue | L 67–81 |
The Basketball Classic results
The Leathernecks have appeared in The Basketball Classic one time. Their record is 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | First Round | UTEP | L 54–80 |
NCAA Division II Tournament results
The Leathernecks have appeared in three NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 2–4.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Regional Quarterfinals Regional 3rd Place Game | Centenary Abilene Christian | L 76–84 L 81–85 OT |
| 1980 | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Finals | North Dakota South Dakota State | W 102–79 L 86–98 |
| 1981 | Regional Quarterfinals Regional Finals | Southern Indiana Northern Michigan | W 80–73 L 87–93 |
NAIA tournament results
The Leathernecks have appeared in seven NAIA tournaments. Their combined record is 18–7.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National championship | Morris Harvey Southeastern State SE Louisiana SW Missouri State St. Benedict's | W 84–68 W 79–74OT W 84–79OT W 78–75 L 56–62 |
| 1955 | First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Regis NE Missouri State Gustavus Adolphus Southeastern State | W 76–60 W 86–85 W 50–49 L 61–68 |
| 1956 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Eastern New Mexico Pacific Lutheran Pittsburg State | W 114–87 W 72–67 L 76–83 |
| 1957 | First round Second round Quarterfinals | Southern State (AR) William Jewell Tennessee State | W 101–70 W 80–67 L 88–90 |
| 1958 | First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals National championship | Georgia Teachers Pasadena Youngstown Georgetown (KY) Tennessee State | W 74–62 W 83–80 W 70–67 W 86–81 L 73–85 |
| 1962 | First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Pratt Institute St. Cloud State Carson–Newman Prairie View A&M | W 76–70 W 84–68 W 91–65 L 68–80 |
| 1963 | First round | Miles | L 81–84 |
Notable former players
- Eulis Báez, Overseas
- Ceola Clark III, Overseas
- Joe Dykstra, drafted by the Phoenix Suns
- Obi Emegano, Overseas
- Brandon Gilbeck, Overseas
- Kristjan Makke, Overseas
- Mike Miklusak, Overseas
- Al Miksis, National Basketball Association
- Terell Parks, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League