Jankovich Chooses SMU over ISU

WMBD/WYZZ-TV - NORMAL, Ill. -- There won't be a year six in the Tim Jankovich era at Illinois State.

Jankovich took the Southern Methodist University associate coaching position long rumored to be his on Thursday. He leaves ISU with a 104-64 record over five seasons.

Jankovich will be a coach-in-waiting under Larry Brown. The 71-year-old Brown, who reportedly signed a five year contract, was introduced Monday as SMU's new coach but hasn't coached in college since 1988.

At a late afternoon news conference, Illinois State athletics director Gary Friedman said his program was in "good shape" and that a search for Jankovich's successor will begin immediately. In the meantime, assistants Rob Judson, Anthony Beane and Paris Parham will run the team, Friedman said.

Jankovich, 52, will make roughly $800,000 annually, the Dallas Morning News reported. He made $477,000 last year at ISU.

"(We're) disappointed for sure, but I respect the coach's decision and what he had to do," said junior forward Jackie Carmichael. "At the end of the day, I love coach a lot and he knows that."

Friedman will consult with Illinois State University President Dr. Al Bowman and Mike McCuskey, the school's Board of Trustees chairman, to hire a new coach. Friedman will be making his first significant hire since coming to ISU last summer.

"We have a lot of great people in our athletics department," said Friedman. "When you have great people, other folks are going to be interested. That's a credit to Illinois State." 

ISU made it to three Missouri Valley Conference championship games under Jankovich. While the Redbirds (21-14 in 2011-12) failed to win in any of those title games, they did earn four National Invitation Tournament berths under Jankovich.