NIU won't bring back basketball coach

DeKALB — Northern Illinois coach Ricardo Patton will not be back for a fifth season with the Huskies.

The school announced the move Wednesday in a statement from athletics director Jeff Compher.

Northern Illinois finished the year 9-21 following Tuesday night's 74-54 loss to Bowling Green in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

Under Patton, the Huskies went 35-83 in four years and 19-44 in the MAC.

The former Colorado coach was hired in 2007 to replace Rob Judson, who was fired after his team finished that season with a 7-23 record. Patton took the Buffaloes to the postseason six times, including two trips to the NCAA tournament, and went 184-160 in 11 years at Colorado.