Missouri Valley Basketball: Northern Iowa benefits from chaos in standings

Dan Muller and Illinois State parts ways

After nearly ten years at Illinois State, Dan Muller was fired last week. The former Redbird playing star and coach of the 2017 league championship team was terminated on February 13th.

Illinois State was 11-15 at the time of the firing. Muller’s 167 wins are fourth-most in Redbirds’ history. As a player Muller was the Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Arch Madness most valuable player during his senior season.

ILS had finished in ninth and tenth place the past two seasons. Muller had rebuilt the roster and there was some renewed confidence in the program until center Sy Chatman’s season ended with a knee injury. Illinois State was 10-and-9 until Chatman went down during a game with Evansville on January 23.

The team has lost seven of the next eight games. Muller says he feels like he let his players down and that no one wants Illinois State to succeed more than he.

"“Yesterday, was a tough professional day for me,” said Muller. “Obviously, we haven’t had the success that I want to have or the success I believe this program deserves. There is no one more disappointed in our lack of success than I am. I told the players it’s on me and it’s not on them.”"

Muller was surprised to be let go during the season, but not totally surprised by the decision. He is saddened for his staff that will now need to find jobs. Associate Head Coach Brian Jones is leading the team through the end of the season. The rest of the ILS staff is Marcus Belcher, Rob Johnson and John Putyrski.

Several former ILS coaches are head coaches at other Division 1 programs. Missouri State’s Dana Ford, Tennessee State’s Brian Collins, and UIC’s Luke Yaklich all worked for and with Muller.

Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson says Muller has been a great ambassador for the league.

"“He’s a great man and he’s a really good basketball coach,” said Jacobson. “There hasn’t been a bigger a proponent for our league or for Illinois State than Dan Muller. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it happen (the timing of the firing) during my time here.”"

For the first time in ten years, Illinois State is navigating the Missouri Valley waters without Dan Muller. In the Missouri Valley Conference, chaos is king.