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.

History 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.

Prior to moving to Western Hall in 1964, the men's basketball team played at Hewitt Gymnasium and Peoria Armory from the early 1900s through the 1930s. They also played select home games at Robertson Memorial Field House during the 1970s.

Season results Western Illinois' records season by season since joining Division I in 1981.

Division I Independent 1981–82Jack Margenthaler14–132–2– – Mid-Continent Conference 1982–83Jack Margenthaler20–119–31st of 8 – 1983–84Jack Margenthaler17–136–8 5th of 8 – 1984–85Jack Margenthaler14–1410–4 2nd of 8 – 1985–86Jack Margenthaler13–157–7 T-4th of 8 – 1986–87Jack Margenthaler 12–162–12 8th of 8 – 1987–88Jack Margenthaler15–126–8 5th of 8 – 1988–89Jack Margenthaler9–194–8 T-5th of 8 – 1989–90Jack Margenthaler16–136–6 T-3rd of 8 – 1990–91Jack Margenthaler13–156–10 T-6th of 9 – 1991–92Jack Margenthaler10–184–12 8th of 9 - 1992–93Jim Kerwin8–194–12 8th of 9 – 1993–94Jim Kerwin7–205–13 9th of 10 – 1994–95Jim Kerwin20–813–5 2nd of 10 – 1995–96Jim Kerwin17–1212–6 2nd of 10 – 1996–97Jim Kerwin19–1011–5 T-2nd of 9 –1997–98Jim Kerwin16–1111–5 T-3rd of 9 –1998–99Jim Kerwin16–129–5 T-3rd of 9 –1999–00Jim Kerwin8–223–13 T-9th of 9 – 2000–01Jim Kerwin5–235–11 T-T-7th of 9 -2001–02Jim Kerwin12–163–11 7th of 8 –2002–03Jim Kerwin7–213–11 7th of 8 –2003–04Derek Thomas3–251–15 9th of 9 –2004–05Derek Thomas11–147–9 T-5th of 9 –2005–06Derek Thomas7–213–13 8th of 8 –2006–07 Derek Thomas 7–23 3–11 7th of 8 – Summit League2007–08Derek Thomas12–187–11 7th of 10 –2008–09Jim Molinari9–206–12 T-8th of 10 –2009–10Jim Molinari13–176–12 T-6th of 10 –2010–11Jim Molinari7–232–16 9th of 10 –2011–12Jim Molinari18–159–9 4th of 10 CBI 1st Round2012–13Jim Molinari22–913–3 T-1st of 9 CBI 1st Round2013–14Jim Molinari10–204–10 7th of 8 –2014–15Billy Wright8–203–13 9th of 9 2015–16Billy Wright10–173–13 9th of 9 –2016–17Billy Wright8–205–11 8th of 9 –2017–18Billy Wright 12–163–11 8th of 8 –2018–19Billy Wright10–214–12 8th of 9 –2019–20Billy Wright5–212–14 9th of 9 –2020–21Rob Jeter7–155–9 7th of 9 –2021–22Rob Jeter16–167–11 6th of 10 TBC 1st Round2022–23Rob Jeter16–149–9 4th of 10 – Ohio Valley Conference2023–24Chad Boudreau21–1213–54th of 11 –2024–25Chad Boudreau12–196–1410th of 11 –2025–26Chad Boudreau5–261–1911th of 11 –Totals45 Years 7 Coaches 595–846 308–432 2 Conf. Championships 3 Postseason Appearances

Coaching history Stats updated as of the end of the 2022–23 season Lewis 1910–1911 0–5 Albert Walrath 1911–1914 4–7E.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 135–174Derek Thomas 2003–2008 40–104 Jim Molinari 2008–14 79–104 Billy Wright 2014–2020 53–115Rob Jeter 2020–2023 39–45 Chad Boudreau 2023–present 21–13 Totals 1,389–1,302

Postseason

CBI results The Leathernecks have appeared in two College Basketball Invitationals. Their combined record is 0–2.

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.

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.

1959 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional 3rd Place Game CentenaryAbilene Christian L 76–84L 81–85 OT 1980 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional Finals North DakotaSouth Dakota State W 102–79L 86–98 1981 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional Finals Southern IndianaNorthern Michigan W 80–73L 87–93

NAIA tournament results The Leathernecks have appeared in seven NAIA tournaments. Their combined record is 18–7.

1954 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational championship Morris HarveySoutheastern StateSE LouisianaSW Missouri StateSt. Benedict's W 84–68W 79–74OTW 84–79OTW 78–75L 56–62 1955 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinalsSemifinals RegisNE Missouri StateGustavus AdolphusSoutheastern State W 76–60W 86–85W 50–49L 61–68 1956 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinals Eastern New MexicoPacific LutheranPittsburg State W 114–87W 72–67L 76–83 1957 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinals Southern State (AR)William JewellTennessee State W 101–70W 80–67L 88–90 1958 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsNational championship Georgia TeachersPasadenaYoungstownGeorgetown (KY)Tennessee State W 74–62W 83–80W 70–67W 86–81L 73–85 1962 First roundSecond roundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Pratt InstituteSt. Cloud StateCarson–NewmanPrairie View A&M W 76–70W 84–68W 91–65L 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

See also NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament bids by school List of NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament bids by school

References

External links