Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball

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Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball
2023–24 Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team
UniversityWestern Illinois University
First season1904
All-time record557-789 (.414)
Athletic directorPaul Bubb
Head coachChad Boudreau (1st season)
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
LocationMacomb, Illinois
ArenaWestern Hall
(Capacity: 5,139)
NicknameLeathernecks
Student sectionPurple Platoon
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


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

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' 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

CBI results[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Western Illinois Leathernecks Athletics 2017–18 Branding & Style Guidelines (PDF). July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Western Illinois University to Join the OVC in 2023-24" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Sequel 1904" (Press release). Western Illinois University. July 7, 2011. p. 21. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Western Illinois to play in first-ever D-I postseason tourney". Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  5. ^ "Western Illinois" (PDF). goleathernecks.com. Retrieved 2023-06-26.

External links[edit]