Steve Antrim, head basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, interviewed for the vacant NIU head coaching job Thursday.

NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell said Antrim did not apply for the job personally, but was recommended by a third party, whom O’Dell was reluctant to name. O’Dell then contacted UW-M Athletic Director Bud Haidet for permission to talk with Antrim about the position.

“We contacted him (Antrim),” O’Dell said. “Steve was one of the people who came highly recommended to us—Chicago background with Division II head coaching experience (UW-M), successful head coach, great teacher, dynamic personality, successful assistant at Iowa State.”

A 1965 graduate of New Trier East High School, Antrim joined UW-M in April 1987, and turned what was an 8-20 program the previous year into a 16-12 team in his first season. His 1988-89 ballclub finished with a 24-7 mark (the school’s best-ever record) before bowing out of the Division II National Tournament quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Southeast Missouri State.

“We averaged 90 points a game and we had eight games over 100,” Antrim said of his successful ‘88-89 campaign. “We are a true fast-break, run-and-press team. That’s how we play.”

The 41-year old began his college coaching career at Lake Forest College in 1976. After posting a 5-16 record his first year, Antrim’s squad improved to 18-4 and 15-7 the next two years. He then moved to St. Michael’s College in Minooski, Vermont, where he had a 45-60 four-year mark. In 1983, he became an assistant at Iowa State under Johnny Orr, where he remained until taking over at UW-M.

“I came here (NIU) to see what the program was all about,” Antrim said. “And what I found out is that you need to come to this campus. This is a very, very, very fine program. I thought physically the campus was terrific. I think it would be a very easy place to recruit to.

“I know a lot of your (NIU) players. My players know a lot of your players. My players are from Chicago. I know your players and I know your players’ high school coaches. I’ve seen your players play—some of them since they were in high school.”

It has been learned by The Northern Star that at least four other candidates will be interviewed within the next five days and that a press conference will be held next Thursday to name the new coach.

The candidates are scheduled to be interviewed in the following order: University of Illinois assistant Mark Coomes, today; Iowa State assistant Jim Hallihan, Monday; University of Indiana assistant Joby Wright, Tuesday; and NIU interim coach Robert Collins, Tuesday.

DePaul assistant coach Jim Molinari is also believed to be a strong candidate, and WIFR-TV in Rockford reported Thursday night that Molinari will also be interviewing tomorrow.

Collins, also 41, was the top assistant to former NIU coach Jim Rosborough, who was fired March 8. Collins said his biggest concern is that people will automatically associate him with the shortcomings of Rosborough’s system.

“The program that I would set up would not be an extension of the previous coach,” Collins said. “As an assistant, you do the things the head coach requests. I would do a lot of things different. We need to make a 100 percent turnaround in discipline, fundamentals, consistency, and develop a few more quality character traits.”

Collins posted a 129-43 record in seven years as head coach at Robeson High School before coming to NIU in 1986. He was named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association District II Coach of the Year in 1984 and coached a professional/amateur team to the championship game of the 1984 Schlitz Malt Liquor Summer Basketball League.

“I feel the time is right for me as a person,” Collins said. “I feel that me at Northern Illinois, with the present players, is a perfect match for 1989. I brought these kids in. I have a very good rapport with them. I know their families, their backgrounds. I know their personalities and how to deal with them. I’d hate to see any type of interruption as to where I feel they could go right now.”

The selection committee will meet with each of the candidates before making a final recommendation to O’Dell next week. The final decision will then rest with O’Dell.