HR1081 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1081 LRB093 22628 KEF 52229 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Jim Whitesell on being selected men's head basketball coach for Loyola University of Chicago on April 14, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Whitesell is a 1982 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; he has served as the head coach at Lewis University for the past 12 seasons, compiling a 214-126 (.629) record there; he owns a 278-194 (.589) career record in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach; and

WHEREAS, This season, Coach Whitesell guided the Lewis Flyers to a 24-7 record and helped the team win the program's first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) championship in 16 years; for his efforts, he was lauded as the GLVC Coach of the Year, National Association of Basketball Coaches Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year and, for the sixth time, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year; for the first time in school history, the Lewis Flyers were the #1 seed in the region at the 2004 NCAA tournament; and

WHEREAS, The Lewis Flyers made five trips to the Division II NCAA tournament under Coach Whitesell's watchful eye and won at least 18 games on seven occasions; he produced 10 winning seasons in 12 years in Romeoville; this year's team was ranked as high as #11 in the nation; and

WHEREAS, A master at rebuilding programs, he revived Elmhurst College by guiding the Bluejays to a 19-9 record and the school's first-ever NCAA Division III Championship berth in 1991-92; in five seasons at Elmhurst (1987-92), he turned around a program that had not posted a winning campaign in 17 previous years; and

WHEREAS, Prior to his appointment at Elmhurst, Coach Whitesell served as an assistant coach at Minnesota State University (formerly Mankato State) from 1985 to 1987, at Wabash Valley Community College from 1984 to 1985, and at Ellsworth Community College from 1983 to 1984; and

WHEREAS, With Mr. Whitesell taking over the leadership of the Ramblers basketball program, the Loyola University Administration, student body, alumni, community members, and Rambler fans wish him the best in his efforts to lead Loyola back to basketball prominence; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jim Whitesell on being named men's head basketball coach for Loyola University of Chicago and we wish him great success in leading the Ramblers basketball team; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jim Whitesell as an expression of our esteem and with our best wishes for future success with the Loyola Ramblers.