Coach Mo coming back to Big 10?

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JackJD

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Gentleman Jim Molinari, current head coach at Western Illinois (Summit League) is rumored to be moving to take an assistant's position at Nebraska. 'Husker coach Tim Miles, yesterday named CBS Sports Collegeinsider.com "Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year", just lost top assistant, Craig Smith, who was named as the University of South Dakota's new head coach (Summit League -- let's get this straight: USD = coyotes... the good guys, SDSU = Jackrabbits). I saw this rumor reported only on the Leatherneck's fan message board but otherwise there seems to be no confirmation.

Molinari seems to be a great guy. There's a Chicago sports radio station that calls him up and has just hilarious conversations. He has quite a background, too: everyone isn't aware Molinari has a law degree.

I remember Molinari doing a serviceable job as interim when Minnesota let Monson go. Molinari has very set ideas about defense and his teams at WIU can be very disciplined and most games tend to be low-scoring affairs.
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>All signs are pointing to W. Illinois' Jim Molinari joining <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nebrasketball&src=hash">#Nebrasketball</a>’s staff as its new assistant coach... ($) <a href="https://t.co/eeanuTEicE">https://t.co/eeanuTEicE</a></p>— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobinWashut/statuses/452528905891508224">April 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 


GophersInIowa said:
I imagine this is a bump in salary for him.
Click to expand...

I'm looking for what he makes at WIU. The rumor mill reports he'll be paid $200k at Nebraska. That's what Craig Smith was schedule to get next season...his salary at USD will be a base of $185,000.

It's reported on LeatherneckNation that Molinari's base is just $117,000. Can't blame the guy for leaving. He's a great basketball mind and with the right players will to lock down on defense and avoid the glory of dunking the ball a lot, his teams can do real damage. [Some comparisons with other Summit League teams: Saul Phillips at NDSU, base $185k; Scott Nagy at SDSU, base $200k; Craig Smith, former UNL assistant taking over USD, starts with a base of $185k.]

ADDED LATER AFTER READING GOPHERSINIOWA POST BELOW -- I checked the source for that $117,000 salary for Molinari and it was from the fall of 2012. I have to believe he was making more this year.
 




JackJD said:
Gentleman Jim Molinari, current head coach at Western Illinois (Summit League) is rumored to be moving to take an assistant's position at Nebraska. 'Husker coach Tim Miles, yesterday named CBS Sports Collegeinsider.com "Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year", just lost top assistant, Craig Smith, who was named as the University of South Dakota's new head coach (Summit League -- let's get this straight: USD = coyotes... the good guys, SDSU = Jackrabbits). I saw this rumor reported only on the Leatherneck's fan message board but otherwise there seems to be no confirmation.

Molinari seems to be a great guy. There's a Chicago sports radio station that calls him up and has just hilarious conversations. He has quite a background, too: everyone isn't aware Molinari has a law degree.

I remember Molinari doing a serviceable job as interim when Minnesota let Monson go. Molinari has very set ideas about defense and his teams at WIU can be very disciplined and most games tend to be low-scoring affairs.
Click to expand...

Coach Mo is one of the classiest coaches I've ever met. A quality individual. He was a real credit to the University of Minnesota during his time in Minneapolis.
 

True story about Molinari's wit: I was in the lobby of the hotel where the Summit League teams were staying for the Summit League Tourney a few years ago when, hours after Western Illinois won to advance to the championship game against SD State, Molinari comes in with a shopping bag in his hand. I was having a beer with a number of Jackrabbit fans. As Molinari walked by, people said congrats, good luck etc. and Molinari, with his best deadpan, says "I had to go to the mall to buy a white shirt. I didn't know I was going to be here tomorrow night."

The next night his Leatherneck team gave a very good, Nate Wolters-led Jackrabbit team a battle that went to overtime before the Jacks won.
 

He's a very good coach, Nebraska is going to be that much tougher next year.
 



Former Gopher Wade Hoknson has been named acting HC for Western Illinois:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> RT <a href="https://twitter.com/johnbohnenkamp">@johnbohnenkamp</a>: Wade Hokenson, the Leathernecks' associate head coach, has been named acting head coach.</p>— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) <a href="https://twitter.com/GopherHole/statuses/454439604016660480">April 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 

Rumors circulating that Minnesota State head coach Matt Margenthaler is a candidate at WIU.
 


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