Dollar leaves ISU for Auburn

Posted on April 30, 2016

Newly appointed ISU assistant coach Chad Dollar is heading to Auburn (Photo from: goredbirds.com)

By Austin Duncan

NORMAL- Newly appointed assistant coach for the Illinois State men’s basketball program, Chad Dollar is headed to the same position at Auburn.

According to Auburn University athletics, Dollar has agreed to join head coach Bruce Pearl’s Staff.

“There are only a few schools in the country where I always dreamed of coaching, and Auburn is one of them,” said Dollar in a press release on Auburn’s athletics website. “Growing up, I watched Auburn basketball and spent a lot of time at Auburn through the years with my dad being a high school coach and having a few of his former players play at Auburn. It is like a dream come true to coach at Auburn and coach with one of the best coaches in the country in Coach Pearl. I am very excited about this opportunity, and I am looking forward to the success that lies ahead for Auburn basketball.”

Nine days ago, head coach Dan Muller announced the hiring of Dollar. However, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl says Dollar was available.

“We are very fortunate that a coach of Chad Dollar’s caliber and experience was available,” said Pearl in the press release.

Muller issued a statement late Saturday night, saying “The timing of Chad’s decision may seem bad, but he cannot control when opportunities come. While there is never a good time for an assistant to make a move, I am happy for Chad to get this opportunity for himself and his family. I wish him nothing but the best.”

Dollar replaced former assistant coach Jeremy Ballard at Illinois State. Ballard left ISU last month to join former Redbird head coach Kevin Stallings’ staff at Pittsburgh.

The Redbird basketball program still has two scholarships remaining for the 2016-17 season.

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