NORTHERN ILLINOIS — On Year 1 A.Patton, The Huskies landed a new basketball recruit from Chicago, "Boys Of Summer" singer Dre Henley. The 6'6" guard/forward is now Mark Montgomery's first "get" as NIU's head coach and had been considering schools such as Indiana State and Fairfield, and even DePaul. [Sun-Times]
TOLEDO — Eastern Europe can get along if it the amicability may exist in the Rockets' tennis program. Croatian-born Sven Burus and the Serbian Aleksandar Elezovic are doubles partners with a 30-8 record. Burus and Elezovic; they'll serve your bloc off™. [Toledo Blade]
WESTERN MICHIGAN — Turn around a hockey team, including trips to the CCHA Championship and the NCAA Tournament. Pick up accolades as such Coach of the Year. After all that in just ONE YEAR, you're gonna get paid. WMU head coach Jeff Blashill's salary went from $150K to $275K just like that, lickety split, combined with an extra year on his contract which keeps him in Kalamazoo through 2015. [MLive]
BALL STATE — OMG BILL LYNCH IS COACHING BALL STATE FOOTBALL! ... as their honorary offensive coordinator for the spring game last weekend. [BallStateSports]
CENTRAL MICHIGAN — Drew Ellis looks at the job CMU athletic director Dave Heeke must undertake scheduling his football team in unpopular places and times, all to support the entire athletics program and bring in some big-name opponents to Kelly/Shorts (Michigan State in 2012). Take this article and multiply it by 12. [Morning Sun]
EASTERN MICHIGAN — It's pretty hard to crack the dynasty that is Kent State women's golf, who won their 13th straight championship, but EMU did finish second and claim an individual title by Sarah Johnson, the first in school history at the MAC Championships in Nashport, Ohio. [EMUEagles.com]