June 1, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State head men's basketball coach Tim Jankovich completed his staff of assistant coaches Friday with the hiring of former Northern Illinois head coach Rob Judson. Judson boasts more than 18 years of collegiate coaching experience in the state of Illinois.
Jankovich was impressed with Judson's long list of credentials, and was excited to welcome him to the staff.
"I am thrilled to have Rob joining our staff," said Jankovich. Coming to ISU, I don't know if I could have hoped to hire anyone more accomplished nor well-known in basketball in the state of Illinois. His resume as a player, an assistant coach, and head coach is difficult to match. We think he will be a great addition to our school and our community."
Judson was equally as proud to join the Illinois State basketball program.
"I am elated to have the opportunity to be coaching alongside Coach Jankovich and to be an Illinois State Redbird," said Judson. "It is a blessing to be able to remain in the state of Illinois, and I am looking forward to the great rivalries in the Missouri Valley Conference.
"My family encouraged me to continue in college basketball, and the chance to join Coach Jankovich's staff allows for an exciting new purpose at Illinois State. We are eager to join the ISU athletic family and community."
Judson spent the past six seasons as the Huskies' mentor, where he compiled a 74-101 record. Taking over a team that won just five games in the 2000-01 campaign, Judson led NIU to 12 wins in his first season. He then led the Huskies to the first of two 17-win seasons with a 17-14 record in 2002-03, followed by 10-20 and 11-17 campaigns. Judson's 2005-06 squad posted a 17-11 mark and won the Mid-American Conference West Division championship. Judson's average of 13 wins per season over his first three years at NIU was the best start to a coaching tenure in school history.
Judson is no stranger to the state of Illinois or the Missouri Valley Conference. Prior to his stint with the Huskies, Judson spent the previous 12 years as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois (1989-91), Bradley (1991-96) and his alma mater, Illinois (1996-2001). During 12 years as a Division I assistant, Judson contributed to nine winning campaigns, including eight 20-win seasons, and recruited two Conference Players of the Year - Bradley's Anthony Parker in the MVC (1996-97) and Illinois' Frank Williams in the Big Ten (2000-01). He has been a part of six NCAA Tournament teams and two squads that advanced to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
In his five years at Bradley, Judson helped the Braves to three consecutive 20-win seasons (23-8, 20-10 and 22-8 during 1993-96), and three straight postseason appearances.
As a player with the Illini, Judson earned All-Big Ten Academic and Fourth-Team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors as a junior. The next year, he repeated as an all-league all-academic selection. During his four years under former Illinois head coach Lou Henson, the Illini compiled a 70-52 record, including a 23-13 slate and third-place NIT finish in Judson's junior season. He also set the Illinois single-season (.957) and career (.875) free throw percentage standards.
Judson and his wife, Dr. Kim Judson, have three children, daughters, Karin, 21 and Kristin, 17; and son, Matthew, 19.
