Former basketball assistant leaves Southern Ill. for Big 10

Painter leaves for Purdue, his alma mater, where he could become next head coach

By: Matthew Stevens

Posted: 4/9/04

A second former Eastern assistant may eventually take over the reins of a Big Ten men's basketball program.

According to the Associated Press, Matt Painter will officially be named to the position at a press conference scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday.

Painter has apparently resigned as head coach at Southern Illinois to take an assistant's job at Purdue.

Officials at SIU also scheduled a Friday news conference to announce a new coach.

Saluki athletics director Paul Kowalczyk met with Painter on Monday and tried to sweeten his deal with SIU by offering to more than double his current contract.

"We offered him a substantial increase, but we can't win a bidding war with Purdue," Kowalczyk said. "We appreciated Matt's service. He's done a tremendous job and got more out of our team this year than anyone could have expected."

Painter acknowledged Monday he has been contacted by Purdue University about the possibility of joining Gene Keady's staff for the upcoming season and becoming the successor to the Boilermakers' legendary head coach in 2005-06.

"If it were a scenario where it was just a school offering me a lot of money, I wouldn't have taken the job at this point in my career," Painter said. "But Purdue wasn't just another school. I have a passion for Purdue. It's my alma mater. And then there's Gene Keady."

The first Big Ten coaching job to be given to an Eastern assistant was Ricky Birdsong, who led Northwestern to a 34-78 record in his four seasons in Evanston between 1993-97.

Painter said Purdue athletics director Morgan Burke has discussed the scenario with him but no decision has been made. Painter was recruited by Keady and played for him at Purdue from 1989-93.

Painter posted a 25-5 record in his first year as head coach this past season at SIU which included being ranked in the Top 25 for six weeks and received an eighth seed in the NCAA Tournament before eventually losing to Alabama, who eventually lost in the Elite Eight.

After a full week of consideration, Keady decided to reject the University of San Francisco's overtures and $400,000 contract offer and stay at Purdue. Keady, 67, has one year remaining on his contract with the university and it appears likely that the 2004-05 season could be his last with the Boilermakers. Keady is paid $800,000 per season by the university.

Keady also made it clear that he wanted to at least have a voice in saying who will become the next Purdue head coach.

"I was concerned about my three assistants (Martin, Todd Foster and Tracy Webster) and I wanted to get a say-so in my successor," Keady said to the Associated Press. "If I'm there, I'll be in a situation where I'll be better able to do that."

Other names considered included former UCLA coach and current ESPN analyst Steve Lavin and current Purdue assistant Cuonzo Martin.

"I've talked with Coach Keady a lot the last couple weeks about different situations," Painter said. "After the job was offered to me, he just kept telling me to do what was best for me and my family."

One name that has been thrown around in recent years was Bruce Weber but after leaving Southern Illinois to take the head coaching position at Illinois, he agreed to not leave the Fighting Illini for Purdue.

Painter confirmed at the SIU Awards Banquet that he was "torn" between staying at SIU and taking a job as an assistant at Purdue that would lead to the head post at his alma mater.

Painter said Tuesday his decision probably would come within the next two days.

"It could happen in 12 hours or it could happen in 48 hours," Painter said. "I'm not really sure.

Painter stated that would not mind going back to being an assistant.

"I feel more comfortable being an assistant coach anyway, to tell you the truth," Painter said. "My personality allows me to be that way. I don't look at myself as a head coach when I'm actually out there standing and being a head coach. I'm just trying to help our players, trying to help our team win and just trying to be a part of the program."

He acknowledged that both situations offer up plenty of pros and cons but the appeal of coaching for his alma mater is obviously very attractive.

"You just don't think something like this will be on your plate ever, especially at my alma mater," Painter said. "Working with Gene Keady would be great. He's been like a father to me."

Painter's wife is from Carterville, and the couple recently bought a house there. They also have a 9-year-old and are expecting a baby in four months.

But the toughest part of leaving might be saying goodbye to players that went through a coaching change just 11 months ago.

"I've discussed it with our players and told them I'm torn," Painter said. "I don't know what to do. They're the reason I'm torn."

"It's a dream for me to go back for Purdue. But it's also a dream for me to coach here. (They're) two very good programs. It's just a difficult situation," Painter said.

"I'll go 15 minutes where I think I'll be at one place or the other, then I'll flip it around. I really don't have an answer for you at this point."