Post by 2543nick on Apr 14, 2004 17:58:20 GMT -6
Chicago (April 14, 2004) – Loyola University Chicago Director of Athletics John Planek announced today that Jim Whitesell has been selected as the school’s head men’s basketball coach. Whitesell, a 1982 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, has served as the head coach at nearby Lewis University for the past 12 seasons, compiling a 214-126 (.629) record there. He owns a 278-194 (.589) career record in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach and succeeds Larry Farmer who spent six seasons in Rogers Park.
"Jim has had a tremendous amount of success at Lewis and when contacting individuals about our job, his name repeatedly came up as someone we should consider," Planek said. "He is a great fit for this job because he has strong ties to the Chicago area and is a proven winner. And, Bruce Pearl (UW-Milwaukee) and Steve Hawkins (Western Michigan) are excellent examples of coaches from the Great Lakes Valley Conference who have enjoyed tremendous success at the Division I level. We are thrilled to add Jim to the Loyola family."
"I am really excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at Loyola," Whitesell said. "I think this is a wonderful fit for me and hopefully it is for Loyola as well. Having been in the Chicago area for the past 17 years, I look forward to the challenge of restoring Loyola back to prominence. We hope to bring a lot of energy and excitement to the Gentile Center as well as the campus and community."
This season, the 44-year-old Whitesell guided Lewis to a 24-7 record and helped the Flyers win the program’s first GLVC championship in 16 years. For his efforts, Whitesell was lauded as the GLVC Coach of the Year, National Association of Basketball Coaches Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year and, for the sixth time, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year. For the first time in school history, Lewis was the #1 seed in the region at the 2004 NCAA tournament.
"I enjoyed meeting with Jim during the interview process and believe he has a firm understanding of the mission of Loyola," Loyola University Chicago President Fr. Michael Garanzini, S.J. said. "The university is undergoing a great revitalization and growth with enrollment numbers reaching new heights. That growth is also visible by new buildings going up on campus and we look forward to Jim being the person to help restore Loyola to basketball prominence."
Over the last three campaigns, Whitesell’s charges racked up a 72-22 (.766) record, the most successful three-year stint in program history, advancing to the NCAA tournament each season. The 2002 Flyers equaled the school record with 25 victories and advanced to the Division II Sweet Sixteen.
Lewis made five trips to the Division II NCAA tournament under Whitesell’s watchful eye and won at least 18 games on seven occasions. He produced 10 winning seasons in 12 years in Romeoville. This year’s team was ranked as high as #11 in the nation.
Off the court, Whitesell’s players have been true student-athletes as over 95 percent of his players have graduated in his 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach. During his tenure at Lewis, Whitesell implemented several community and on-campus programs to bring support and awareness to the basketball program. Some of those initiatives included Midnight Madness and a Sixth Man Club, a program to develop enthusiasm and support for the team among the student body.
"Loyola has made an excellent choice in hiring Jim Whitesell," Saint Louis University head coach Brad Soderberg said. "He is energetic, well organized and will work non-stop to be successful. His teams will be solid at both ends of the floor and will play hard. Jim will win and make Loyola proud because he will do it the right way."
A master at rebuilding programs, Whitesell revived Elmhurst College by guiding the Bluejays to a 19-9 record and the school’s first-ever NCAA Division III Championship berth in 1991-92. In five seasons at Elmhurst (1987-92), he turned around a program that had not posted a winning campaign in 17 previous years.
Prior to his appointment at Elmhurst, Whitesell served as an assistant coach at Minnesota State University (formerly Mankato State) from 1985-87, at Wabash Valley Community College in 1984-85 and at Ellsworth Community College in 1983-84.
"Jim is a proven winner and has rebuilt the programs at both Elmhurst and Lewis," Wake Forest University Director of Athletics Ron Wellman said. "He has all the characteristics and qualities you look for in a coach. He will be a tremendous representative of Loyola University Chicago."
Whitesell graduated from Luther College in 1982 after attending Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. He earned a master’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota in 1983.
Whitesell and his wife Connie, a partner with the human resources consulting firm PW Associates, reside in Chicago.
Coaching Experience:
1992-2004 Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Lewis University
1987-92 Head Coach, Elmhurst College
1985-87 Assistant Coach, Minnesota State University
1984-85 Assistant Coach, Wabash Valley Community College
1983-84 Assistant Coach, Ellsworth Community College
1982-83 Graduate Assistant Coach, University of North Dakota
Education:
1983 Master’s Degree in Education, University of North Dakota
1982 Bachelor of Arts Degree, Luther College
1980 Associate of Arts Degree, Ellsworth Community College
Personal:
Date of Birth: December 27, 1959 (44 years old)
Hometown: Iowa Falls, Iowa
Family: Wife Connie; dog Daisy