MACOMB, Ill. – Surrounded by loved ones, a dear member of the Western Illinois community passed away last week. Brodie Westen, a longtime resident of Macomb and WIU Athletics Hall of Famer, died at the Elms Nursing Home in Macomb at the age of 89. 

Born on June 13, 1932, Westen served in the US Navy during the Korean War and entered the coaching ranks after graduating from Northern Michigan University. He served as a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois Champaign. Not long afterward, he began working as a football coach, teacher, and athletic director at Rockford West High School before joining the WIU football staff as an assistant in 1971.

Westen was eventually promoted to head coach, and his efforts resulted in being selected as the Illinois Coach of the year in 1975. His Leathernecks went 12-7-1 over two years. Though Westen left coaching following the 1975 season, he remained in Macomb and ran a successful beverage distributorship, the Brodie Westen Company. In 1992, he was officially inducted into the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame. Throughout his 50-plus years living in Macomb, he was highly active in the community -- serving on the Leatherneck Club Board of Directors and several other local governmental authorities.

Westen was known as someone who had a close connection to his players, many of whom he remained in contact with until his passing. Westen especially loved his family, friends, the Macomb community and Western Illinois University, and WIU Athletics is honored to be a part of his legacy. 

Westen is survived by his seven children, 14 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, brother, brother-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made out to the Brodie and Jane Westen Scholarship Endowment at Western Illinois University.