With the hiring of new head coach Rob Judson, NIU’s basketball program is moving in the right direction, with an incredibly strong chance of making something good happen over the next five seasons.

It’s been said time and time again that Judson is a great recruiter. Of his prime catches, none may be greater than the Peoria boys — Sergio McClain, Frank Williams and Marcus Griffin.

And some of those same people who aided Judson in his success at the University of Illinois should now be ready and willing to aid him once again. Coach Wayne McClain of Peoria Manuel High School & the school from which the trio came & said he isn’t returning next season. His name has been mentioned frequently for the third assistant’s position at Illinois. Likewise, he is tabbed as a good choice for the No. 1 assistant’s position at NIU, and would be in charge of recruiting.

“I think Jud and I have the best relationship,” McClain said. “We have a friendly off-court relationship. When the time comes, I think that is going to be there. After the dust settles with Illinois, then we’ll sit down and talk.”

There’s a really good chance McClain’s going to be walking the lines at Chick Evans Field House next season if NIU can put up the right amount of money. McClain makes $53,165 at Peoria Manuel, which means NIU needs to ante up at least $55,000 to get him here.

One more thing to add is that Illinois really wants McClain. With him comes the chance of Big Ten Player of the Year Frank Williams for another season. And what Illinois wants, Illinois usually has the money to get.

NIU now needs to make whatever cuts are necessary. The athletics department must start making every sacrifice it can to bring McClain to NIU. Even though the Huskies won’t be able to compete with the Illini dollar-for-dollar, there is something else they can offer.

Word has it that Sergio McClain wants a job, too. Illinois only has one assistant’s job and a graduate assistant spot open next season. NIU has three full-time assistant coaching jobs ready to go, and that could help lure both father and son to DeKalb.

So, then, what to do with the third and final coaching slot?

Judson could go after Rock Valley Community College head coach Carl Armato. His team finished seventh in the nation in the national junior college championship this month, and he is a former NIU player with strong ties to Rockford. He would be a great addition to the program, and now is the time to get him. Much like Judson, Armato is primed to move to the next level. With his team having such a good showing in the NJCAA, NIU probably will not be the only school looking to get its hands on him.

But Armato, like the McClains, will cost money, and that means the athletics department is just going to have to pay. And if you think that because the head coach received roughly an $18,000 pay raise, the assistants’ pay shouldn’t be raised, here’s a little compariso: DePaul’s Pat Kennedy makes $650,000 per year. DePaul had a few good years here and there, but it’s not like NIU could never have done what DePaul did with the right recruits.

So, trim, cut, downsize, deduct, reduce and slim the budget to bring these three guys here.

I’ll take a few more parking tickets, if need be, to get them.