SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Kevin Gamble, the only men’s basketball head coach UIS has known, has resigned to take a position on the Providence College staff, it was announced today by Prairie Star Director of Athletics Dr. Rodger Jehlicka.
“We thank Kevin for all he has done for UIS and the Springfield community. We want our coaches to achieve their goals both personally and professionally and coaching at the Division I level has always been one Kevin’s dreams,” Jehlicka said. “We wish Kevin nothing but success and his family the best as they move east.”
Jehlicka also noted that a national search for Gamble’s successor will begin immediately.
Gamble spent nine years as the Prairie Star head coach, a program he started from scratch and compiled a 130-79 record.
The 2008-09 season was the program's final one as member of the NAIA saw UIS continue its successful ways as Gamble led the team to a 21-9 record (10-4 in the American Midwest Conference). Another 20-win season came in 2007-08 as UIS went 22-10 overall including an 11-3 slate in league play.
The 2006-07 season saw the Prairie Stars capture their first American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular season title outright, win their second consecutive AMC Tournament and advance to the second round of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament. Gamble's team went 11-1 in conference play and 23-9 overall and his continued success earned Gamble his second American Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honor.
As a player, Gamble was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers (#63 pick overall) in the third round of the 1987 NBA Draft. In 1988, the Boston Celtics signed Gamble as a free agent and he played with the Celtics until 1994 when he signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 1996, where he played for one year.
A native of Springfield, Gamble played at Lanphier High School, leading the Lions to the Illinois Class AA State Basketball Championship in 1983.
He went on to attend Lincoln College for two years before transferring to the University of Iowa for his final two college seasons. In his senior year at Iowa, he led the Hawkeyes to a 30-5 record and the NCAA tournament regional finals. He was named the team's co-MVP in 1987.