WWW.EIUPANTHERS.COM HEAD COACH MIKE MILLER Eastern Illinois University head coach Mike Miller has a history of turning programs around and as he enters his third season at the helm of the Panthers program he appears to have the fortunes of the EIU program headed in the right direction. Hired in mid-April of 2005 after fi ve years as the associate head coach at Kansas State University, Miller has already produced two Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in his short tenure at EIU. In addition his fi rst full recruiting class in 2006 was rated as the best in the OVC by HoopScoop.com while also ranking in the Top 100 recruiting classes nationally. Among the seven new faces Miller and his staff were able to bring in among that top class were the school’s fi rst freshman to lead the program in scoring in the NCAA Division I era in Romain Martin and only the second freshman to lead the team in rebounding as a NCAA Division I school in Ousmane Cisse. Originally from Monmouth, Illinois, Miller has always had ties to the deep tradition of basketball in the State of Illinois and surrounding region. He and his staff (all local products themselves) have emphasized getting the best talent in the area that fi ts their system. In 2007 they have once again accomplished that with two top recruits from Michigan and Wisconsin. Miller’s second season at EIU got off to a rocky start with eight new faces on the roster learning how to play in a new system. As the season progressed the team was able to gel and fi nish strong in the fi nal month by winning fi ve games and making a late run at the OVC Tournament. EIU fi nished at 10-20 mark and was not eliminated from the OVC Tournament picture until the fi nal game at Samford. His fi rst EIU team fi nished with a 6-21 record but the team improved over the course of the season winning fi ve of its six games in Ohio Valley Conference play including a win over conference champion Murray State University. During his tenure at Kansas State, Miller helped the team improve from an 11-18 record his fi rst season to a 17-12 mark in 2004-05. That season the Wildcats started three sophomores and a “true” freshman, and had six wins over teams that advanced to post season tournaments. During that same time frame 10 of 14 seniors who completed their eligibility earned degrees with fi ve players earning Academic All-Big 12 honors. Miller also served as one of K-State’s top recruiters with the Wildcats having three straight Top 25 recruiting classes as named by Hoop Scoop magazine. The 2002 class was rated No. 1 in the nation. No stranger to building programs, Miller helped revitalize the program at Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State) during nine years of association with the program. He started as an assistant in 1991-92 as the Bobcats won only 7 games. The team fi nished above .500 his second year on the staff and went 25-7 in 1993-94 during his third season setting a school record for wins and a spot in the 1994 NCAA Tournament. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT The next season Miller was named the head coach at Texas State becoming the second youngest Division I head coach at the UNDER MIKE MILLER age of 29. Over the next six seasons as the Bobcats head man, Miller won two conference championships in 1997 and 1999 and 22 All-Conference Picks fi nished second in 1998. The 1997 team advanced to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Southland Conference Tournament, 2 Southland Conference Tournament MVP's Miller winning SLC Coach of the Year honors. Six players would earn Academic All-Southland Conference Southland Conference honors during his tenure and in 1999 Jeff Foster would be selected Player Of The Year in the fi rst round of the NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. Miller’s teams led the Southland Conference in defense fi ve of six seasons Donte Mathis and ranked third in the NCAA in 1999 allowing opponents to shoot only 37.3 percent from the fl oor. Ohio Valley Conference Miller also has assistant coaching stops at Sam Houston State Freshman of the Year in 1991 and Western Illinois in 1990. Romain Martin (2007) A graduate of Monmouth (Ill.) High School, Miller played Mike Robinson (2006) basketball at East Texas State. He was a member of the East Texas State team that won the 1984 Lone Star Conference championship. Jeff Foster Miller graduated from East Texas State in 1987. 1999 First Round Draft Pick He and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Matt and Joey. (Golden State Warriors)
2007-08 EASTERN ILLINOIS MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE 33 EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHER BASKETBALL HEAD COACH MIKE MILLER MILLER FILE EDUCATION East Texas State (1987) B.S. in Health Education
PLAYING CAREER East Texas State (Forward, 1984-86)
HEAD COACHING CAREER 2005-Present ...... Eastern Illinois 1994-2000 ...... Texas State (SW Texas)
ASSISTANT COACHING CAREER 2001-05 ...... Kansas State 1992-94 ...... Texas State (SW Texas) 1991 ...... Sam Houston State 1990 ...... Western Illinois
AWARDS 1997 ...... Southland Conference 'Coach of the Year' HEAD COACHING HISTORY EASTERN ILLINOIS ALL CONFERENCE YEARS W-L W-L AFFILIATION 2005-06 ...... 6-21 ...... 5-15....Ohio Valley / 9th 2006-07 ...... 10-20 ...... 6-14..Ohio Valley / 10th TEXAS STATE (SW TEXAS) ALL CONFERENCE YEARS W-L W-L AFFILIATION 1999-2000 ..... 12-17 ...... 8-10...Southland / T-6th 1998-99 ...... 19-9 ...... 13-5...... Southland / 1st 1999 Southland Conference Champion 1997-98 ...... 17-11 ...... 10-6..Southland / T-2nd 1996-97 ...... 16-13 ...... 10-6...Southland / T-1st 1997 Southland Conference Tournament Champion and NCAA Tournament Participant 1995-96 ...... 11-15 ...... 7-11 ...Southland / T-7th 1994-95 ...... 12-14 ...... 7-11 ..Southland / T-7th
Overall Record (7)...... 103-120 (.462) Eastern Illinois Record (1) ...... 16-41 (.281) Ohio Valley Record (1) ...... 11-29 (.275) Texas State Record (6) ...... 87-79 (.524) MILLER'S BLUEPRINT FOR DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT ATHLETIC ENHANCEMENT Southland Record (6) ...... 55-49 (.529) • Daytime Study Table by Assignment • Team and Individualized Strength/ ASSISTANT HISTORY • Individual Mentoring Conditioning Program • Weekly meeting with coaches • Develop Proper Nutrition Habits KANSAS STATE • Outline weekly schedule • Bi-Weekly Weigh-Ins ALL CONFERENCE YEARS W-L W-L AFFILIATION • Reside in Residence Hall • Injury Prevention Techniques 2004-05 ...... 17-12 ...... 6-10...... Big 12 / 10th • Work with Academic Support Staff • Basketball Specifi c Workouts 2003-04 ...... 14-14 ...... 6-10...... Big 12 / T-9th • Measurement System for 2002-03 ...... 13-17 ...... 4-12...... Big 12 / 11th 2001-02 ...... 13-16 ...... 6-10...... Big 12 / T-7th LIFE SKILLS Documentation 2000-01 ...... 11-18 ...... 4-12...... Big 12 / 10th • Develop Verbal/Written Communication • Basketball Skill Enhancement TEXAS STATE (SW TEXAS) Skills • Video Editing • Educate on Substance Abuse Issues ALL CONFERENCE YEARS W-L W-L AFFILIATION • Print/Electronic Media Training COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 1993-94 ...... 25-7 ...... 14-4.....Southland / 2nd • Sexual Harassment Awareness • Panther Pack Youth Clinics 1992-93 ...... 14-13 ...... 9-9....Southland / T-5th 1991-92 ...... 7-20 ...... 4-14...Southland / T-8th • Time Management Seminars • Voluntary Activities with Charitable Organizations SAM HOUSTON STATE • Public School Reading Programs ALL CONFERENCE • Junior Panther Clinics YEARS W-L W-L AFFILIATION 1990-91 ...... 7-20 ...... 5-9...... Southland / 5th SENIORS PROGRAM WESTERN ILLINOIS • Career Planning and Placement ALL CONFERENCE Information YEARS W-L W-L AFFILIATION • Preparing a Successful Resume 1989-90 ...... 16-13 ...... 6-6...... Mid-Con / T-3rd • Networking with Potential Employers • Professional Basketball Opportunities
34 BLEED BLUE...TIME TO SHINE WWW.EIUPANTHERS.COM ASSISTANT COACHES & SUPPORT STAFF
CHAD MICHAEL ALTADONNA LEWIS ASSISTANT COACH ASSISTANT COACH THIRD SEASON THIRD SEASON
Chad Altadonna enters his third year as an assistant Michael Lewis, Indiana University’s all-time assist coach on head coach Mike Miller’s Eastern Illinois University leader, enters his third year on Mike Miller’s Eastern Illinois staff. Altadonna was formerly the director of basketball basketball staff. operations at Kansas State University before following Miller Lewis worked the 2005 season as an assistant coach to EIU. at Stephen F. Austin after two seasons as a graduate Altadonna was a four-year letter winner at Illinois assistant on coach Bob Knight’s Texas Tech staff. State (1992-95) serving Lewis played for Knight as the team captain of ALTADONNA FILE at Indiana from 1997-2000 LEWIS FILE 1995 NIT team. He was EDUCATION earning third team All-Big EDUCATION named the Missouri Valley Illinois State (1996) Ten honors his senior year. Indiana (2000) ...... B.S. in Psychology/Sociology ...... B.S. in Recreation/Sports Conference’s “Sixth Man of He fi nished his career with Management the Year” and ranked sixth PLAYING CAREER 545 assists, breaking the Texas Tech (2004) in the nation in free throw Illinois State (1992-95) record formerly held by ...... M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies percentage. He also led ASST. COACHING CAREER Quinn Buckner. He was 2004-05 ...... Kansas State ISU in scoring during MVC also team captain during PLAYING CAREER 1998-2003 ...... Illinois State Belgium (2001) games. 1997...... North Texas State his senior season. Altadonna started his His IU career was also Florida Seadragons (USBL, 2001) AWARDS Ft. Wayne Fury (CBA, 2000-01) coaching career in 1996 1995...... ISU Team Captain highlighted by an MVP Indiana (1997-2000) as a student-assistant at ...... Missouri Valley Conference honor at the 1999 Hoosier ISU helping coach the 'Sixth Man Award' Classic and as a member ASST. COACHING CAREER ...... Sixth in the nation in 2005...... Stephen F. Austin Redbirds to the quarterfi nal free throw Percentage of the Big Ten All-Star 2003-04 ...... Texas Tech round of the NIT with a 22- team that traveled through AWARDS 11 record. He graduated Europe in 1997. 2000...... Third Team All-Big Ten from ISU in 1996. Lewis played for the ...... Team Captain His next stop was at the University of North Texas Fort Wayne Fury of the ...... IU all-time assist leader for the 1997 season before returning to the Illinois State CBA in 2001 and the ...... USBL All-Star Team staff in 1998. During his fi ve years on the ISU staff (1998- Florida Seadragons of 2003), Altadonna helped the team reach two post-season the USBL in 2000 and 2001. He was a USBL All-Star in tournaments including advancing to the second round of 2000. He also played shortly in Belgium. the NCAA Tournament in 1998 with a 25-6 record. The A 1996 graduate of Jasper (IN) High School, Lewis 2001 team made an NIT appearance. fi nished as Indiana’s 13th all-time leading prep scorer with Altadonna moved on to the Kansas State staff for the 2,138 points in 1996. He led the state in scoring and was 2004-05 season with the Wildcats posting a 17-12 record, named the Gatorade Player of the Year and named to the its best mark since the 1998 season. Altadonna was Indiana All-Star team. responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Wildcat Lewis earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana in program which involved some aspect of academic progress, 2000 and a masters from Texas Tech in 2004. recruiting, budgeting, compliance, scheduling and team travel. A 1991 graduate of Centralia High School, Altadonna was the 1991 team MVP while leading the Orphans in scoring, rebounding and assists.
2007-08 EASTERN ILLINOIS MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE 35 EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHER BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACHES & SUPPORT STAFF
CHRYS CORNELIUS ASSISTANT COACH FIRST SEASON
Chrys Cornelius joined the EIU staff in June of 2007 after four years as an assistant coach at Florida A&M University where he helped coach the Rattlers to a fi rst BRENDA WILSON MARK BONNSTETTER round NCAA Tournament appearance last season. Offi ce Systems Assistant Head Certifi ed Athletic Trainer Cornelius is a native of Joliet, Ill., where he attended Joliet Catholic Academy earning All-East Suburban Catholic League second team honors. He originally CORNELIUS FILE signed to play at Arkansas EDUCATION Pine-Bluff out of high Western Illinois (1995) school, but transferred to ...... B.S. in Physical Education Western Illinois earning his PLAYING CAREER degree in 1995. Western Illinois (1991-95)
He began his ASST. COACHING CAREER coaching career at Joliet 2003-07 ...... Florida A&M Junior College in 1995 2003...... Chicago State 2000-03 ...... Western Illinois moving on to become 1998-2000 ...... Jacksonville JC TONY KATZENMEIER MICHAEL HALL a graduate assistant at 1996-98 ...... Western Illinois Certifi ed Athletic Trainer Strength and Conditioning Coach Western Illinois from 1996- 1995-96 ...... Jolliet JC 98. He spent two seasons at Jacksonville (Texas) Junior College before returning as a full-time assistant at WIU in 2000. The Leathernecks had the nation’s seventh largest turnaround in wins during the 2001-02 season. Following a quick stop at Chicago State, Cornelius joined head coach Mike Gillespie’s Florida A&M staff for the 2003-04 season as FAMU made one of two NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure. The Rattlers also won the MEAC Conference basketball tournament this past season and played Niagara in the NCAA Opening Round game in Dayton, Ohio. FAMU had six Chicago area players on their roster last season. 2008 BASKETBALL MANAGERS (L-R): Dan Harris, Weldon Williams Adam Lockwood, Brandon Radford (not pictured - Blake Freels)
36 BLEED BLUE...TIME TO SHINE WWW.EIUPANTHERS.COM 2007-08 SEASON NOTES EIU RETURNS FIVE-FOR-FIVE CLOSING ON 1,000 Eastern Illinois is one of the few teams in the country that return Senior Bobby Catchings is closing on joining the 1,000 point club all fi ve starters from last season. That group of players combined for his career. Catchings enters the year with 810 career points. His to score 79 percent of EIU points and pull down 63 percent of the lowest previous full season total was 252 points as a freshman. team's rebounds. In addition, EIU returns a total of 11 players who saw considerable minutes last season. FEW NEWCOMERS Eastern Illinois head coach Mike Miller only added two players OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR during the off-season with each recruiting to fi ll a void on the Romain Martin made it three in three years for Eastern Illinois as current team. EIU signed Matt Dorlack and Tyler Laser. Dorlack the Minneapolis, Minn., product was named the 2007 Ohio Valley is a 6-11 shot blocker from New Berlin, Wisc., that was rated one Conference Freshman of the Year. He joins 2006 OVC honoree of the top big men in Wisconsin. Laser is a scoring guard from Mike Robinson in the EIU back court. Hillsdale, Mich., who scored 1,875 career points.