2008 Woodie Awards
Coaches react to Molinari's hiring
Ryan Ferguson
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports
During a March 27 press conference with Dr. Tim Van Alstine, the Western Illinois athletics director told reporters he wanted to hire a men's basketball coach who could, "play nice in the sandbox."
With Thursday night's hiring of Jim Molinari, Van Alstine did just that.
Several other head coaches were in attendance at Friday morning's press conference that formally introduced Molinari as the Leathernecks new head basketball coach. After speaking with several of his new co-workers, the only impression was that Western made a terrific choice.
Leslie Crane
Women's basketball coach
"I think it's a win-win situation for the university and men's basketball program and for coach Molinari. The things that he stated in his comments today at the press conference, I think it's a great fit, and I believe that.
"I think all of our fans are going to be excited in what they do on the court. I know a little bit of his background and his teaching, and I think they will recognize quite a few things out on the floor, and I think our men's basketball team and the players are very fortunate to have such an experienced head coach coming in. I think they're going to reap the benefits for quite some time."
Don Patterson
Football coach
"It's one of those things where if you've coached as long as he and I have, you feel like you know someone even if you don't know them. I kind of felt that way about him, especially reading the Peoria paper for the last 10 years. I had a true appreciation for him before I got to know him.
"When he came on campus, more than a few people asked me after we had spent some time together, 'what do you think of him?' I just was honest as always and said, 'I really like him.' The final question was, 'why do you like him?' The fundamental answer was I just felt philosophically we were very much on the same page, very much in agreement with how to run a program and how to treat young people, and I just think he's a great fit based on those things.
With Thursday night's hiring of Jim Molinari, Van Alstine did just that.
Several other head coaches were in attendance at Friday morning's press conference that formally introduced Molinari as the Leathernecks new head basketball coach. After speaking with several of his new co-workers, the only impression was that Western made a terrific choice.
Leslie Crane
Women's basketball coach
"I think it's a win-win situation for the university and men's basketball program and for coach Molinari. The things that he stated in his comments today at the press conference, I think it's a great fit, and I believe that.
"I think all of our fans are going to be excited in what they do on the court. I know a little bit of his background and his teaching, and I think they will recognize quite a few things out on the floor, and I think our men's basketball team and the players are very fortunate to have such an experienced head coach coming in. I think they're going to reap the benefits for quite some time."
Don Patterson
Football coach
"It's one of those things where if you've coached as long as he and I have, you feel like you know someone even if you don't know them. I kind of felt that way about him, especially reading the Peoria paper for the last 10 years. I had a true appreciation for him before I got to know him.
"When he came on campus, more than a few people asked me after we had spent some time together, 'what do you think of him?' I just was honest as always and said, 'I really like him.' The final question was, 'why do you like him?' The fundamental answer was I just felt philosophically we were very much on the same page, very much in agreement with how to run a program and how to treat young people, and I just think he's a great fit based on those things.
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