USC’s Hammel Expected to Be Named Northern Illinois Basketball Coach

Brian Hammel, USC’s top assistant basketball coach, is expected to be named coach at Northern Illinois University today. The school has called a news conference.

Hammel flew to DeKalb, Ill., on Monday to work out the details of his contract and could not be reached for comment.

Hammel will succeed Jim Molinari, who left to become the coach at Bradley University. Molinari, who compiled a 42-17 mark in two seasons, led Northern Illinois to a 25-6 record last season and an NCAA tournament berth.

Hammel, 38, has spent the past seven seasons as an assistant to George Raveling, two of them at Iowa before moving with Raveling to USC in 1986.

As USC’s chief recruiter, Hammel was instrumental in the signing of Trojan guard Harold Miner.