NIU has another basketball coach.

Jim Molinari was officially named coach of the Huskies after NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell and his staff decided the 11-year assistant coach from DePaul was “The Leader of The Pack.”

About 80 people applied for the position, which was made vacant after the firing of Jim Rosborough.

The NIU men’s basketball program has been forced down a shaky road over the past four years. One coach was fired, then another was hired and fired and now Molinari is taking the reins.

Coaches have come and gone, and mediocrity has remained.

Congratulations are in order for Molinari and also for Rosborough, who soon will join Lute Olson at the home of a successful basketball program at the University of Arizona.

NIU’s program also can be successful. Success doesn’t have to be measured by numbers in the win column. The experiences one can accumulate while participating in collegiate athletics are valuable.

However, reality has shown the public that success for athletic programs at major universities is measured in winning percentages and gate receipts.

Molinari already has his work cut out for him since reports of some players possibly leaving the program and transferring elsewhere have surfaced. Gaining respect from players, coaches and administration should be first on Molinari’s list of things to accomplish before the next round-ball season.

Molinari, his assistants and his players have a lot of hard work in front of them. It will be a rough road. But if all involved work toward a common goal, as a team should do, losses might not be quite so painful.

So good luck to the NIU men’s basketball team and let’s hope Molinari has a long and pleasant stay.