Purdue head coach Matt Painter has hired Rick Ray as assistant men's basketball coach.

Ray spent the last two seasons at Northern Illinois as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. NIU is coming off an unprecedented season as Mid-American Conference(MAC) West Division Champions.

Ray graduated from Labette Community College in 1991 with current LCC head men’s basketball coach, Armando Johnson. Both were on the LCC men’s basketball team when it was reinstated in 1988.

“I am excited for him. Rick is one of my best friends and also the Godfather of my children.  We were roommates in college.  I’ve been excited about every step Rick has taken, from Indiana State to NIU and now Purdue.  We look at Rick’s success as being our success,” said Johnson.

"We are very excited to have Rick join our staff," said Painter. "We think he has all the qualities we look for at Purdue. He has a proven track record and recruiting ties in the Midwest. He's had experience at two other programs with coaches that we respect a great deal. At those programs, they do things the right way and think a lot of Rick."

Ray will begin his duties at Purdue during the week of June 12th.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Ray. "I've always admired the Purdue basketball family and Coach Painter. I really like the staff and administration. I think this program is heading in the right direction, and I'm elated to be a part of it."

"Rick Ray did an outstanding job during his tenure with NIU Basketball," NIU head coach Rob Judson said. "As recruiting coordinator, Rick was relentless. His impact on our current class is evident. Rick is an excellent on-court coach as well, and contributed significantly to our MAC West Division Championship this past season."

Rick is a bright, hard working assistant coach, who has earned this new opportunity," Judson continued. "He is advancing his career professionally and financially. Our program was fortunate to have Rick move to NIU from Indiana State, and we want to thank him for his efforts. We wish him the best as he faces new challenges at Purdue University and in the Big Ten."

Prior to being hired at Northern Illinois, Ray spent seven seasons as a member of Royce Waltman's Indiana State men's basketball staff. Ray helped the Sycamores to back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference titles in 2000 and 2001 and ISU's regular-season crown in 2000 was the program's first ou! tright conference title in 21 seasons.

Before his seven seasons in Terre Haute, Ray spent two seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha as a graduate assistant. At Nebraska-Omaha, Ray helped turn a 6-21 program into 14-13 team in only one season.

The Kansas City, Kan., native began his collegiate playing career at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kan., before transferring to Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. An All-America scholar-athlete and honorable mention all-conference performer, Ray served as team captain for the Vikings as a senior in 1993. Ray received his bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and secondary education from Grand View in 1994. He later earned his master's degree in athletic administration from Nebraska-Omaha in 1997.