Molinari completes coaching staff

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Posted: 7/23/08

Western Illinois University head basketball coach Jim Molinari completed the 2008-09 coaching staff with the hiring of Wade Hokenson and Billy Wright as assistant coaches.

"When building a program, I stress character, academics and winning on the court," Molinari said. "These two coaches have all three of these factors in their own lives and have been in programs that have those things as well."

Hokenson served as the first assistant at Bellevue University in Nebraska for two years, helping the team to the NAIA Division II National Tournament as the No. 1 seed both seasons and landing the runner-up spot in 2008. The team won the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title and tournament title in both 2007 and 2008 with records of 32-2 and 33-4 respectively. In addition to coaching basketball at Bellevue, Hokenson also served as an academic advisor.

A 2004 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Hokenson competed in the NIT Final Four in 2003 and led the Gophers to the NIT Second Round in 2001 and 2002 as a point guard. Named academic all-Big Ten in 2004 and a scholar athlete, Hokenson continued his education, earning a master of arts degree in curriculum and instruction from Dakota Wesleyan in 2007.

"In addition to tremendous academic success, Wade has experienced success at the NAIA level and brings an immense amount of experience both in recruiting and technique," Molinari said.

"I have a lot of energy, I am very organized and I plan to do things the right way," Hokenson said. "I've been to Western to visit twice now and my wife and I are really excited because each time we've been there the people have been great."

Wright comes to Western with 12 years of coaching experience at the high school level, including last two as head coach, in addition to four years of playing experience as an all-conference point guard at Bradley University.

In his first year as head coach at Pike High School in Indiana, 2006-07, Wright led the Red Devils to a sectional championship with a 20-5 record. Prior to his time as a head coach, Wright spent 10 years as an assistant under two hall of fame coaches, Steve Witty (at Ben Davis) and Larry Bullington (at Pike). In 2003, Wright helped lead the Red Devils to an undefeated season (29-0), a No. 2 ranking and a Class 4A state championship.

A 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee at Bradley, Wright was a three-time member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Defense Team from 1994-96. He started his career at Bradley as a member of the MVC All-Freshman team in 1993 and finished his career with conference champion honors and an NCAA Tournament Appearance in 1996. Wright graduated in 1996 with a degree in education.

"The opportunity to coach at the collegiate level has always been something that I wanted to do," said Wright. "I am a hard worker who has been around the game of Division I basketball as a player and at the high school level. The ties that I have with Illinois and Indiana will help with recruiting and bringing in the right kids to get us where we want to go. Having played for Molinari, it is great to work with a guy that I know and respect. It is also very exciting for me as well."

"Billy has run one of the most successful programs in Indianapolis," Molinari said. "He played for me in the past and has built a similar program to the one that he experienced."

"I hired these two because they have a high level of character and that is where it all starts," Molinari concluded.

- Western Illinois University Athletics Media Services