SIU-Edwardsville hires Cal's Harris as coach

Apr 4, 2015 - 1:23 AM Edwardsville, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Southern Illinois-Edwardsville has hired former California assistant Jon Harris as its new head men's basketball coach.

The university made the announcement Friday evening and said Harris will be formally introduced at a news conference on Monday.

He takes over for Lennox Forrester, who was fired on March 10 after eight seasons coaching the Cougars.

Harris spent the last seven years as an assistant under Cuonzo Martin at Missouri State, Tennessee and Cal, where he helped the Bears go 18-15 this past season. He played college basketball at Marquette for four years from 1998-2002, including his senior season with future NBA star Dwyane Wade.

The Cougars were 82-146 under Forrester, including a 12-16 record this past season. They transitioned from Division II to Division I in 2008-09, Forrester's second season at the helm.

They were knocked out of this year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in a first-round loss to Eastern Illinois.