UMKC hires Northwestern assistant Donlon as hoops coach

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri-Kansas City hired Northwestern assistant Billy Donlon on Thursday to take over its men’s basketball program, which has never qualified for the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level.

Donlon spent six years as head coach at Wright State, going 109-94 while leading the program to three 20-win seasons and three Horizon League title games. He also spent time working under John Beilein at Michigan and as an assistant at his alma mater North Carolina-Wilmington.

The 42-year-old Donlon takes over for Kareem Richardson, who was fired after going 75-118 over six seasons with the Roos. His best season was 2016-17, when he went 18-17 and made the CBI tournament.

The Roos were 11-21 and 6-10 in the Western Athletic Conference this past season.