Illinois College head men’s basketball coach Mike Worrell has announced his retirement, effective May 31, 2018. After 22 seasons and more than 500 games in charge of the Blueboys, Worrell will coach his final contest at Illinois College on February 17 when the Blueboys host Grinnell College.
“I would like to thank Coach Worrell for everything he has done for Illinois College since his arrival in 1996,” said Director of Athletics Mike Snyder. “Mike has impacted so many students over his 22 years of service to Illinois College. His dedication to the men’s basketball program and the growth of the young men on his teams is admirable. He will leave a lasting impression on the program and I wish Mike the very best.”
A two-time winner of the Midwest Conference Coach of the Year award, Worrell took over the reins of the Illinois College program from Bill Merris prior to the 1996-97 season and had the Blueboys in the MWC Tournament by his third season. Beginning with that 1998-99 season, IC qualified for four MWC Tournaments in a five-year span and broke through with a tournament title in 2002-03, putting Illinois College into the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in school history.
Worrell has taken Illinois College to five MWC Tournaments and produced 29 All-MWC performers in his time as head coach. His 200th career win came last season with a 77-75 overtime triumph at Lake Forest College. Another important achievement Worrell has produced in his time at Illinois College is the formation of the Hampton and Passavant Shootouts each summer, bringing in hundreds of junior high and high school basketball players to the IC campus for one of the largest summer shootouts in the state.
With five games remaining in the regular season, Worrell currently sits at 209 career wins. The Blueboys have two of their final five games at home, hosting Beloit College on Feb. 7 and Grinnell on Feb. 17.
A national search for a new men’s basketball coach at Illinois College will begin immediately.
