SEAN HARRINGTON
Friday, June 13, 2003
Sean Harrington, who played basketball for Bill Self the last three years at the University of Illinois, now will get a chance to work for Self -- at Kansas University.
The 22-year-old Harrington accepted a position Thursday as administrative assistant/video coordinator on the first-year KU coach's staff. He replaces C.B. McGrath, who took a similar post at North Carolina in early April.
"Every coach I've ever worked with has told me the advantages of hiring an ex-player," Self said. "Sean was a very good college player who probably knows me as well as anybody. He will be a great addition to our staff. He was raised by a coach, and he has a bright future in our profession."
The 6-foot-3 Harrington, who played for his dad at Elgin High in suburban Chicago, averaged 5.7 points a game in college, helping U of I to a 100-34 mark. He led the Big Ten Conference in three-point field goal percentage as a sophomore and senior and was a three-time all-conference academic pick.
"This is the best possible situation for me to be in," said Harrington, whose duties will include coordinating materials in recruiting, taping games and acquiring tape on opposing teams. "I knew right after I got through playing I wanted to be a coach. To think about going to a school such as Kansas, with all the tradition, and to get to work for coach Self in a first job, it's really exciting."
Harrington started 21 of 132 career games for the Illini, playing on the U of I teams that went 1-1 in NCAA Tournament games against KU. During his sophomore season, the Illini stopped KU, 80-64, in a Sweet 16 game in San Antonio. That squad reached the Elite Eight. KU beat U of I, 73-69, in the Sweet 16 in Madison, Wis., his junior year.
"That was probably the biggest highlight, getting to go that far in the NCAA Tournament and come a couple of baskets short of getting to the Final Four my sophomore year," said Harrington, who hails from Bartlett, Ill.
Harrington played for Lon Kruger his freshman year and Self the final three years.
"I think he is a great motivator," Harrington said of Self. "The intensity level raised when he came in my sophomore year. He really gets after it. He coaches with intensity, and it carries over to the players. We worked really hard in practice every day. We had some tough practices.
"No question he knows a lot about the game, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he runs the program day-to-day."
Harrington said there was no question Self preferred a fast-paced game. The Illini led the Big Ten in scoring a year ago.
"He wants to get out and run and run in the Big Ten if that's possible," Harrington said with a laugh. "The Big Ten is a physical league. I think he'll definitely want to run (at KU)."
Harrington has been in town a couple of days and has been running with the Jayhawks in pick-up games.
"It's still fun to play," Harrington said. "I've been around the guys and played some. There's definitely some talented players coming in and talented players coming back."
Harrington said he was taking ribbing from his buddies at Illinois.
"Yes, I've talked to them. There's some jokes back and forth," Harrington said. "To me it feels weird being anywhere but Illinois. I've been there all my life. It's a great opportunity for me, and I hope to do anything I can to help the staff out here."
Self already has hired full-time aides in Norm Roberts and Tim Jankovich. He has one full-time opening remaining and a spot for another non-bench coach. Danny Manning and Ben Miller have been mentioned as candidates for those slots.
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Sean Harrington, coming off an impressive four-year playing career at the University of Illinois, is in his first season on the KU coaching staff in the role of administrative assistant/video coordinator.
Harrington, a 6-3 guard from Bartlett, Ill., was a four-year contributor for the Illini, including playing the past three seasons under Self. During his career, the Illini went a combined 100-34, including winning the Big Ten regular-season title his sophomore and junior years and the Big Ten Tournament his senior campaign.
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Harrington led the league in three-point field goal percentage as a sophomore and as a senior. He finished his career playing in 132 games, starting 21, and he averaged 5.7 points per game over his four-year career. Illinois' best year with Harrington on the floor was his sophomore year, when the team went 27-8 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
Harrington replaces C.B. McGrath, who took a similar post at North Carolina in early April.
Source: KUAthletics.com