Niagara hires Michigan coach’s son, Patrick Beilein

LEWISTON, N.Y. (AP) — Niagara University has hired Patrick Beilein to take over its men’s basketball program.

The 36-year-old Beilein is the son of Michigan coach John Beilein and his hiring on Thursday follows a similar coaching-career path taken by his father. Patrick Beilein spent the past four years coaching at Division II Le Moyne where he had a 67-24 record before moving to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

John Beilein also coached at Le Moyne, and then spent five years at Canisius, a Buffalo-based MAAC school that is Niagara’s western New York regional rival.

Patrick Beilein replaces Chris Casey, who was fired this month after a 13-19 season. The Purple Eagles went 64-129 and failed to advance past the MAAC Tournament quarterfinals in each of Casey’s six seasons.

Under Beilein, Le Moyne qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of its past three seasons, and made the school’s first appearance in the quarterfinals a year ago.