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http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/gatesui.html

Dennis Gates Will Remain At Northern Illinois, Decides To Pull His Name From Consideration For Coaching Vacancy At The University Of Illinois

Brian Stinnette
September 14, 2007

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Citing a loyalty to what is being built at Northern Illinois University, Dennis Gates has pulled his name out of the running for the vacant assistant coaching position at the University of Illinois. Gates, who starred in high school at Chicago Whitney Young, is now a highly regarded rising star in the coaching ranks.

Gates, who did interview for the vacancy left at Illinois when Tracy Webster accepted a position on staff at Kentucky, told ChicagoHoops.com that he has decided to remain at Northern Illinois, and has pulled his name from consideration. Gates said, "We are on the verge of building something special at Northern Illinois University, and I want to be a part of that success."

Gates speaks highly of Illinois head coach Bruce Weber, who is without question one of the best college basketball coaches in the country, and an Illinois program that has also experienced great success.

However, Gates feels a strong sense of loyalty to the Northern Illinois basketball program, and specifically mentions NIU Athletic Director Jim Phillips and Senior Associate Athletic Director Robert Collins as being fully committed to building the Northern Illinois program into something special.

Gates believes that new head coach Ricardo Patton has put together a coaching staff that has all the necessary components to deliver great success at Northern Illinois both on, and off of the basketball court, which was also a strong factor in his deciding to no longer be in consideration for the opening at Illinois.

First off, that's awesome to hear. I was hoping he'd stay around for a while and continue to build that momentum. Second, that is the most glowing thing I've read about NIU in a long time. Sure, it's from the mouth of an NIU employee, but it's still great to read. Ya hear that Colvin?!?!?! Come be part of something special.

Yeah they are going to hire either Jerrance Howard or Robert Smith probably, but Gates was certainly a legitimate candidate and we need to keep him around, he's a great recruiter.

YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
& I LOVE keeping him here vs heading south to our "sister" school.

godda wonder if NIU showed him the money?

great news i'm guessing that he seeing that webber might not be at U of I after this year made his decision to stay at NIU.

Zao123 Wrote:great news i'm guessing that he seeing that webber might not be at U of I after this year made his decision to stay at NIU.

Weber isn't going to get fired after this year. He'll have done enough to deserve to by then, but he won't be, so don't fear, Illinois won't have a basketball coach than can recruit anytime soon.

Zao123 Wrote:great news i'm guessing that he seeing that webber might not be at U of I after this year made his decision to stay at NIU.

Well not just that, but their program is in decline. Many people are expecting them to finish in the middle of the Big Ten this season. They've done worse in the NCAA Tourney since that 2005 team, including being knocked out in the first round last season.