SIU-Edwardsville hires Cal's Harris as coach
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Edwardsville, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Southern Illinois-Edwardsville has hired former California assistant Jon Harris as its new head men's basketball coach.
The university made the announcement Friday evening and said Harris will be formally introduced at a news conference on Monday.
He takes over for Lennox Forrester, who was fired on March 10 after eight seasons coaching the Cougars.
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Harris spent the last seven years as an assistant under Cuonzo Martin at Missouri State, Tennessee and Cal, where he helped the Bears go 18-15 this past season. He played college basketball at Marquette for four years from 1998-2002, including his senior season with future NBA star Dwyane Wade.
The Cougars were 82-146 under Forrester, including a 12-16 record this past season. They transitioned from Division II to Division I in 2008-09, Forrester's second season at the helm.
They were knocked out of this year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in a first-round loss to Eastern Illinois.