Donlon is set to take the reigns as the new head coach of WAC program UMKC.
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In addition to searching for players, Northwestern will now have to search for a new assistant coach.
The mass exodus from Evanston continues.
A troubling trend of departures from the Northwestern men’s basketball program infected the coaching staff today, as it was reported that assistant coach Billy Donlon is expected to become the next head coach of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Stadium’s Jeff Goodman first reported the hire, a move that was subsequently confirmed by multiple insiders.
According to Fox 4 Kansas City’s Harold Kuntz, an official announcement of Donlon’s hire is slated for Friday afternoon. Donlon fills a head coaching vacancy at UMKC, left when Kareem Richardson was fired after compiling a 75-118 record in six seasons with the Kangaroos.
Donlon, an Evanston area native, spent just two years as an assistant with Northwestern, both disappointing campaigns that saw the Wildcats fail to return to the NCAA Tournament after a thrilling 2016 season appeared to promise a brighter future for the program. The experienced coach exits after posting a 28-36 record as the No. 2 man reporting to head coach Chris Collins.
Donlon follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pat Baldwin, a former Northwestern assistant who left following the tournament run to become the head coach of Milwaukee. Donlon’s hiring at UMKC marks his return to being a head coach of a mid-major program. After a three-year sabbatical as a Big Ten assistant coach ― he spent the 2016-17 season with Michigan ― Donlon is the top dog once more, a couple of years removed from a six-year run at the helm of Wright State, starting in 2010.
Donlon leaves behind a decimated Northwestern program that has seen the entirety of its core that propelled the team to its first-ever tournament bid just two years ago depart.
The close of an exasperating 2018-19 season ― which saw the Wildcats win just four games and lose ten straight ― led to the swift transfer of seniors Jordan Ash, Barret Benson, and Aaron Falzon, who each announced their intentions to play out their remaining years of eligibility at schools not named Northwestern. Seniors Vic Law, Dererk Pardon, Ryan Taylor, and Charlie Hall are graduating.
There are currently just six returning players on scholarship for Northwestern and four available scholarships. Collins and the Wildcats are expected to be active players in a transfer market brimming with talent.
If that wasn’t enough work, after losing Donlon, Northwestern will additionally have to scour the coaching pool for a new assistant.
