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Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has named college and professional basketball star Kenny Battle as its new NAIA men’s basketball head coach. Battle, a standout and team captain at the University of Illinois in the late 1980s, went onto a successful National Basketball Association (NBA) career with the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and two stints with the Boston Celtics.

Most recently Battle has been coaching, including serving as an assistant coach for the Harlem Globetrotters, Head Coach for the Arizona Preps Senior Spring Classic and coaching at Hi-Five Sports Club in Northbrook, Ill. He also continues to play and recently was a member of the NBA Legends Tour, which traveled across Russia in 2002.

“We are thrilled and excited to have a coach and player of Kenny’s caliber here at IIT,” said President Lew Collens. “We wanted someone who could breathe new life and leadership into our Scarlet Hawk basketball program. Kenny brings an intensity and a love of teaching to our program. He’s a competitor, successful both on and off the court. I know he’ll use his talents to help our student-athletes succeed.”

Battle, a native of Aurora, Ill., first emerged as a basketball sensation at West Aurora High School when he was a starter for three years, a team captain and named Most Valuable Player. During his high school career, Battle was also named a McDonald’s All American, a Converse All American and was inducted into the Illinois High School Athlete Hall of Fame.

Battle first attended Northern Illinois University, where he was team captain and named to the NIU Hall of Fame. He later transferred to the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he was team captain for two years and led the Fighting Illini to a Final Four appearance in 1989 and was voted Illinois’ most popular player of all time. An annual U of I award has also been named in Battle’s honor.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and I can’t wait to get started on rebuilding the IIT program,” said Battle. “I believe that with my experience coaching players of all ages and by drawing on my playing experience in college and the NBA, I can take the IIT program to the next level.”

Battle, a first round draft choice of the Detroit Pistons in the 1989 NBA draft, began his pro career being traded to the Phoenix Suns. He also played for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics. He also played with Continental Basketball Association (CBA) teams in La Crosse, Wis. and Rock Island, Ill.

IIT’s Scarlet Hawks currently compete in NAIA Division I basketball, baseball, cross-country, swimming and volleyball. The university is also a founding member of the �鶹APPland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), comprised of 15 teams. IIT remains a leader when it comes to educational and athletic excellence. The University has a graduation rate of 86% over the last 15 years, among recruited student athletes.

“All my life has been about challenges,” said Battle. “In this challenge I’ll be recruiting students with a 4.0 grade point average, rather than a 40-point average. It’s going to be a whole new professional adventure.”

The 2003-04 Scarlet Hawks Men’s Basketball season tips off November 12, 2003 at Calumet College. The first home game is scheduled for November 29, 2003 against Dominican University.

On a related note, IIT has named Chris Meyer as its new Athletic Director, replacing Jim Darrah, who retired from the post last month. Meyer has been IIT’s volleyball coach and sports information director for 24 years.

Meyer’s volleyball coaching record at IIT is impressive, an overall win-loss record of 596-240. He has been a member of the �鶹APPland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame since 1992.

Meyer’s teams have qualified for the post season numerous times, including the 2000 season when IIT appeared in the NAIA Regional playoffs. He also coached 12 volleyball players that have received NAIA All America Scholar Athlete Honors.

Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university awarding degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering, as well as architecture, psychology, design, business and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum prepares the university’s 6,200 students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace.