# Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball

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.
Western Illinois' first men's basketball team was fielded in 1904. 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. 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.
| 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 | 21–12 | 13–5 | 4th of 11 | – |
| Totals | 43 Years 7 Coaches | 578–801 | 301–399 | 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 | 21–13 |
| Totals | 1,389–1,302 | 1,389–1,302 |

## 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 79–74$^{OT}$ W 84–79$^{OT}$ 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