Mark Montgomery fired after nine and a half seasons at Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois announced a coaching change on Sunday, with Mark Montgomery fired and associate head coach Lamar Chapman taking over for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

Montgomery had been at NIU since 2011, going 124-170 overall including a 1-7 start to this season. The Huskies won a share of the MAC West last season but have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1996.

“We thank Coach Montgomery for his commitment to NIU and his efforts to advance NIU men’s basketball over the last 10 seasons,” AD Sean T. Frazier said in a statement. “We wish him the best in the future.”

A native of Inkster, Michigan, Montgomery came to DeKalb after spending the previous nine seasons on Tom Izzo‘s staff at alma mater Michigan State, including four as associate head coach. He played for the Spartans under legendary head coach Jud Heathcote and was All-Big Ten as a senior in 1992.

Chapman is head coach only in the interim, as Frazier noted that a “meticulous and efficient” national search will be conducted for Montgomery’s permanent replacement.

credit to Paul Battaglia/AP for the image