Western Illinois University Athletics

 

MACOMB, Ill. - Head coach Billy Wright has coached at Western Illinois for a total of seven years prior to the upcoming 2016-17 season. Wright started out as an assistant under Jim Molinari prior to the 2008-09 season, was promoted for Assosticate Head Coach prior to the 2011-12 season, and after spending one season at Ball State (2013-14), Wright was named the program's 20th head coach during the spring of 2014.

During Wright's time at Western, the Leathernecks have had seven players sign professional contracts after earning a degree from Western Illinois UIniversity: Ceola Clark III, Terelll Parks, Jack Houpt, Michael Ochereobia, Jalen Chapman, Jamie Batish and J.C. Fuller.

COACH WRIGHT'S BIG THREE: "The goal for every young man who commits to our program is what I call "The Big Three": earn their degree, win a championship, and have an opportunity to extend their playing career beyond college. I've been blessed to coach three former players who were NBA first round draft picks in Marquis Teague, Jeff Teague and Courtney Lee, and I've had many more go on to sign professional contracts to play overseas. Having relationships with general managers, scouts and agents has been helpful to our players here at Western Illinois University, and to their credit, the players who consistently put in the work, bought in, and trusted the process have benefited the most. The game is global now, and with social media, scouting services, etc. kids are realizing that you don't have to go to a Power Five conference in order to play professionally after college."
 

CEOLA CLARK III YEARS AT WIU: 2007-13 • SIGNED WITH: TAJFUN, SLOVENIAN

JACK HOUPT YEARS AT WIU: 2010-13 • SIGNED WITH: KEYSBOROUGH, AUSTRALIA

TERELL PARKS YEARS AT WIU: 2011-13 • SIGNED WITH: KERAVNOS (CYPRUS)

MICHAEL OCHEREOBIA YEARS AT WIU: 2012-14 • SIGNED WITH: EFANTAS DU, FRANCE

JALEN CHAPMAN YEARS AT WIU: 2014-16 • SIGNED WITH: GREVENBROICH, GERMANY

JAMIE BATISH YEARS AT WIU: 2014-16 • SIGNED WITH: CHESHIRE PHOENIX, ENGLAND

J.C. FULLER YEARS AT WIU: 2014-16 • SIGNED WITH: TAJFUN, SLOVENIAN