Athletics
Western Illinois Men's Basketball Season Preview
Western Illinois head men's basketball coach Jim Molinari and senior guard Ceola Clark III recently sat down to talk about Western Illinois men's basketball.
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Western Illinois Women's Basketball Photo Day Video
Fighting Leatherneck women's basketball recently took team photos for the 2012-13 season, check out this short video taken throughout the day.
Men's Basketball Announces 2012-13 Schedule
Western Illinois head men's basketball coach Jim Molinari announced the Fighting Leathernecks 2012-13 schedule monday (Oct. 15) that features 14 games inside Western Hall. The Leathernecks' schedule also includes competition in the 2012 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
After making its first-ever Division I postseason appearance, Western is slated to play 11 games against teams that advanced to postseason play last year. Fellow Summit League members South Dakota State (NCAA Tournament), North Dakota State (College Basketball Invitational) and Oakland (CollegeInsider.com Tournament) each advanced to the postseason, as well as Savannah State (NIT), Evansville (CBI), Buffalo (CIT) and Yale (CIT)
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Western Illinois Athletics Announces Purple & Gold Alumni Challenge
The Western Illinois athletics department has announced the initiation of The Purple & Gold Student-Athlete Alumni Challenge, a new program that allows alumni to give back to Leatherneck programs they once competed for, and reconnect with present members of the program.
The challenge is designed as a competition among the Western Illinois athletic programs, with the three sports that obtain the largest participation increase receiving a cash increase into their Leatherneck Club Foundation account.
The Purple & Gold Challenge was initiated to re-engage former student-athletes with our programs, connecting Leathernecks of the past with Leathernecks of the present
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Jason Williams signs with Eagles
A Western Illinois standout linebacker from 2004-08, and 2008 Buck Buchanan finalist, Jason Williams, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles Wednesday (Oct. 9th) and was placed on the active roster.
Williams has played mostly at linebacker, but will be summoned to be an impact player on special teams for head coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
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Target: Western Forward Initiative Continues
When Tim Van Alstine was appointed Director of Athletics in the summer of 2001, then Western Illinois University President Don Spencer and Vice President Larry Mortier encouraged Western Illinois Athletics Director Dr. Tim Van Alstine to make athletic facility improvements a top priority. The result, Van Alstine initiated the Target: Western Forward facilities initiative, and what followed changed the landscape of Leatherneck Athletics.
Since 2001, there has been more than $13 million in athletic facility improvements. These facility improvements not only benefitted the more than 400 current student-athletes, but the thousands of Leathernecks that have already graduated and those yet to attend Western Illinois University. Van Alstine's philosophy is to provide the resources necessary for every student-athlete to win a championship ring and earn a diploma, the best Division I experience possible.
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Ryan Brownlee Press Conference
New Western Illinois head baseball coach Ryan Brownlee was officially introduced to the media and staff at a press conference held on Thursday morning (Oct. 4). Brownlee officially began his duties as head baseball coach on Tuesday, October 2. The former assistant coach at the University of Iowa becomes the sixth head baseball coach at Western Illinois dating back to 1955.
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