DeKALB — The NIU basketball program will host its annual Alumni Day Saturday when the men’s and women’s basketball teams play a double-header at the Convocation Center.

The festivities will begin with the women’s basketball team taking on Western Michigan University at 1 p.m., which will be followed by the men’s team taking on Eastern Michigan University at 3:30 p.m.

Alumni can attend both games for $5 for upper-level seats. Lower-level seats are $8 for the women’s game and $10 for the men’s game. The Convocation Center will also be providing a $5 meal deal for alumni, which includes a hotdog and beverage. Alumni can also enjoy free popcorn, hot chocolate and a complimentary NIU scarf.

Men’s basketball

The event is set to honor several alumni members who achieved great success with the basketball program, including the late John McDougal, who passed away in October at the age of 92. McDougal’s family will be in attendance for people to pay the respects of the most-wins coach in the history of men’s basketball at NIU, which will take place during the contest against Eastern Michigan.

McDougal’s Hall of Fame career included leading the Huskies from 1976-86 and accumulating a respectable 136-141 record over that span. McDougal also took the Huskies to their first NCAA tournament in 1982. During his tenure with the Huskies, McDougal coached two Academic All-Americans, two Mid-American Conference players of the year and 11 players who made the MAC all-conference team.

One player from his first two seasons under McDougal was Rodney Davis, 1984-88, who does radio commentary for the men’s basketball team. Davis averaged over 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal in 93 career appearances for the Huskies.

In the two seasons coaching Davis, McDougal nicknamed him “the complete package” for his all-around skill set. Davis said he looked at McDougal like a father figure when he began college because he always made sure Davis kept a close watch on his academic success as well as his basketball success.

“Some of the things [McDougal] said made me realize what I needed to do to succeed,” Davis said. “He was one of those funny, witty guys you could have a conversation with, and being able to have that type of relationship with players was one of the keys [for me].”

Davis said McDougal brought a new culture to NIU basketball that the program has never seen before. McDougal recruited Davis and four others to NIU during a difficult time of mixed feelings about different races in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

“He was somebody who transformed the culture of NIU basketball,” Davis said. “It came at a time that a lot of changes were happening, and he was able to touch my life and a lot of [other] people’s lives.”

Women’s basketball

Among individuals being honored on Alumni Day are Jane Albright, Head Coach of the women’s basketball team from 1984-94 and current women’s basketball Head Coach at the University of Nevada. NIU will also recognize E.C. Hill, who played basketball under Albright from 1991-94 and was inducted into the Huskies Hall of Fame in 2004, and Carol Owens, former NIU Head Coach from 1985-90 and current University of Notre Dame’s associate Head Coach of the women’s basketball team.

Albright said DeKalb is a very special place, NIU gave her the passion for college athletics and coaching that has lived on for 34 years. She said her time in DeKalb exemplifies her love for Division I basketball and all of the people who give everything to the sport.

“My days at NIU really [sparked] my love for coaching and was a perfect match for me,” Albright said. “There has never been a place I’ve worked at since NIU. It’s very unique and very special to me and I’m very grateful for everything they were to me.”

Albright complimented current Head Coach Lisa Carlsen for the success she is having with coaching the NIU women’s basketball team and said Carlsen is changing that basketball program overnight.

Owens said she will not be able to attend the game but is grateful for the honor.

“I think it’s a great honor, and it’s good to be recognized in that light and to always be a part of the family,” Owens said. “I’m a Huskie at heart, and I’m excited about what the [women’s basketball] team is doing and everything that is going on.”

Owens spoke highly of Albright and strongly endorsed her to be honored at the event.

Owens said Albright was always a mother figure to her, and she implements some of Albright’s coaching techniques in her current position as the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Notre Dame.

“She was good at being a player’s coach, and she built strong relationships with the players,” Owens said. “We wanted to play for her, and we wanted to win for her.”