Ryan Marks and Andre Peavy’s NIU careers could soon be over, but both assistant men’s basketball coaches hope they’ll have a shot at sticking around.

Rob Judson, the new NIU head coach, said this week that he’s not yet considered who his assistants will be. Judson, currently an assistant coach at the University of Illinois, was in a similar situation last season when Illini coach Bill Self asked him to stay on board.

“This is an interesting situation because I know a lot of people who would be good at Northern Illinois,” Judson said. “I am not closing or opening any doors to anybody right now. I am going to take my time with that. I am really confident that I will find a good staff.”

Marks said the statement sounds positive, but he knows that when a new head coach is named, usually a staff already is planned. The six-year assistant talked to Judson on Wednesday and told him that he would be interested in staying.

Marks has been at NIU since the 1995-96 season and is a player favorite. His duties include film exchange and scouting, and he’s also overseen the growth of NIU’s youth basketball programs, including the Little Huskie Grammar School Tournament and summer camp

If Judson’s needs don’t work to Marks’ advantage, then he’ll have to start looking for his next job, he said.

“I think that is really wise on his part,” Marks said about Judson not making decisions yet. “Coaches have a pretty good idea on who they want to hire before they get a particular job. Now that he has the job, all the people that are interested in this job will come forward. I am sure there is going to be a lot of good candidates, and he is going to have to see who he is most comfortable working with.”

Peavy also talked to Judson on Tuesday, making a pitch to stay on as assistant. He said Judson’s comments sounded promising, but he knows anything is possible.

Unlike Marks, Peavy is in his first year as an NIU assistant, making this his first coaching experience at the college level. Peavy replaced former NIU assistant and current Pepperdine assistant Benji Taylor, and has been credited for recruitin incoming freshman Chris Lawson.

Peavy said he’ll know soon if he will stay on as a coach.

“The only way to look at this is at a positive outlook,” Peavy said. “I am going to wait and see what opportunities present themselves, whether it is at NIU or somewhere else.”