HR1081 LRB093 22628 KEF 52229 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to recognize Jim Whitesell on being
4 selected men's head basketball coach for Loyola University of
5 Chicago on April 14, 2004; and
 
6      WHEREAS, Mr. Whitesell is a 1982 graduate of Luther
7 College in Decorah, Iowa; he has served as the head coach at
8 Lewis University for the past 12 seasons, compiling a 214-126
9 (.629) record there; he owns a 278-194 (.589) career record in
10 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach; and
 
11     WHEREAS, This season, Coach Whitesell guided the Lewis
12 Flyers to a 24-7 record and helped the team win the program's
13 first Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) championship in 16
14 years; for his efforts, he was lauded as the GLVC Coach of the
15 Year, National Association of Basketball Coaches Great Lakes
16 Region Coach of the Year and, for the sixth time, the Illinois
17 Basketball Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year;
18 for the first time in school history, the Lewis Flyers were the
19 #1 seed in the region at the 2004 NCAA tournament; and
 
20     WHEREAS, The Lewis Flyers made five trips to the Division
21 II NCAA tournament under Coach Whitesell's watchful eye and won
22 at least 18 games on seven occasions; he produced 10 winning
23 seasons in 12 years in Romeoville; this year's team was ranked
24 as high as #11 in the nation; and
 
25     WHEREAS, A master at rebuilding programs, he revived
26 Elmhurst College by guiding the Bluejays to a 19-9 record and
27 the school's first-ever NCAA Division III Championship berth in
28 1991-92; in five seasons at Elmhurst (1987-92), he turned
29 around a program that had not posted a winning campaign in 17
30 previous years; and
 

 

 

HR1081 - 2 - LRB093 22628 KEF 52229 r

1     WHEREAS, Prior to his appointment at Elmhurst, Coach
2 Whitesell served as an assistant coach at Minnesota State
3 University (formerly Mankato State) from 1985 to 1987, at
4 Wabash Valley Community College from 1984 to 1985, and at
5 Ellsworth Community College from 1983 to 1984; and
 
6     WHEREAS, With Mr. Whitesell taking over the leadership of
7 the Ramblers basketball program, the Loyola University
8 Administration, student body, alumni, community members, and
9 Rambler fans wish him the best in his efforts to lead Loyola
10 back to basketball prominence; therefore, be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13 congratulate Jim Whitesell on being named men's head basketball
14 coach for Loyola University of Chicago and we wish him great
15 success in leading the Ramblers basketball team; and be it
16 further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to Jim Whitesell as an expression of our esteem and
19 with our best wishes for future success with the Loyola
20 Ramblers.