In a forward-thinking decision that set the University of Evansville men's basketball program up for long-term success, Purple Aces Director of Athletics Mark Spencer announced that Todd Lickliter agreed to a multi-year deal to immediately take over as the program's head coach. The announcement was made on January 21, 2020 and Lickliter would be on the sidelines for UE less than 24 hours later. He coached the team in the final 13 games of the season and used that opportunity to lay the groundwork for a program that can be sustained on a long-term basis.
"I feel very fortunate to have previously served the University of Evansville as an assistant coach. I am thankful for the positive relationships that were developed with student-athletes, fellow staff members, administrators, fans and supporters of the program," Lickliter said. "This experience brought a level of familiarity that is seldom seen with a change of leadership and in large part, it was this familiarity that allowed for a very timely hire, which gave us a much-appreciated head start in the development of our championship program."
Under normal circumstances, most coaching positions are filled in the weeks and months following the season. With Lickliter taking over in mid-January, it provided what was originally seen as a challenge, but looking back – will be an advantage for the Aces as a foundation was set and a new system was implemented one day at a time.
"It was difficult to smoothly implement our system while competing in the challenging Missouri Valley Conference," Lickliter explained. "I believe we were able to introduce approximately 10% of our system. I am confident that what we were able to accomplish will prove invaluable to our future success. Again – I am very thankful for Mark Spencer's foresight, which gave us the head start in our building process."
"Although difficult at times, the on-court experiences we shared this season will pay dividends in the future," Lickliter continued. "Our student-athletes now have a grasp on our competitive system. They understand that we are a value-based organization that is committed to continued individual and team growth."
One of the most important factors in a head coach being successful with a college program is the fit. For Lickliter, there may not be an opportunity that is better suited for his skills, goals and experience than Evansville. He enjoyed outstanding success as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach at Butler University. Being a private institution in the state of Indiana, Butler has a similar pedigree to that of Evansville. The experience of building a program at a private university is different than a public school. That was just one of the things that made this the best fit to continue his career.
"I have stated the benefit of familiarity and how it was instrumental in my return to lead the Aces basketball program, but in addition, I was aware and had great respect for President (Christopher M.) Pietruszkiewicz and Mark (Spencer) and their leadership styles," Lickliter added. "I know that we share a common vision for UE basketball and their trust in me is very gratifying."
The parallels between Butler and Evansville go way back in their histories. The programs have met a total of 120 times on the hardwood. Both were members of the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) from 1950 through 1977 before continuing as members of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) from 1979-1994. Since UE departed the league in 1994, the Aces and Bulldogs faced off 16 times.
In each of his tenures at Butler – as a player, assistant coach and head coach – Lickliter had a great view of just how much potential the Evansville program has. Now – he embraces the chance to promote the university and UE basketball program as he and his staff build for the future.
"While working on the Butler staff in late 1980's, I saw UE's potential firsthand," he said. "It was obvious that the Aces were one of the top mid major teams in the country. I am confident we can return to that level. I believe in the university, the way we do things here and the resources and benefits we can offer our student-athletes. The student-athletes that we find will be expected to do their part. We want them to be appreciative of the opportunity and to be positive contributors to the university and community."
"We will search for those individuals who will embrace our culture and make sure we are thorough in presenting who we are and how they will fit," Lickliter exclaimed. "At Evansville, we have a lot to sell – a rich tradition, highly respected education, outstanding facilities, an extremely supportive administration, loyal fanbase and committed donors. Not to mention - we play in the highly respected MVC. I believe we will build on these outstanding assets and the future is very bright."
On the court, Lickliter and his coaches have seen a marked improvement across the board in team and individual statistics. When you compare the team performance in the first seven MVC games against the final 12 with Lickliter and his staff, the improvement is evident. Scoring jumped by 9.2 points per game, shooting saw a rise from 36.5% to 41.6% while 3-point accuracy rose by 9.5%. The team also did a much better job of taking care of the ball. In the first six league outings, the Aces had 62 assists against 91 turnovers; over the final stretch, UE finished in positive territory with 150 assists versus 141 turnovers.
Individually, Lickliter credits each player for buying in and doing what was needed. Evan Kuhlman and Jawaun Newton saw perhaps the greatest growth. Prior to Lickliter taking over, Kuhlman's season number stood at 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds while hit outside shooting stood at 18.8%. From that point on, his numbers grew exponentially – he averaged 9.0 points and 4.4 boards with his 3-point accuracy jumping over 20 percentage points to 38.9%. Newton enjoyed similar success. Through his first 17 games of the 2019-20 campaign, Newton stood at 3.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, an overall shooting percentage of 33.9% and a 13.6% tally from 3-point range. Newton's final 12 games checked in with 8.4 tallies, 3.3 caroms and a 55.6% shooting effort. From outside, Newton saw equal improvement, draining 48.0% of his attempts to finish the year.
"This is proof that our approach is a practice and not a theory," he explained. "Not me believing it will work, but proof that it does work. As a team, we saw improvement in nearly every statistical category. Our goal when building a team is to have our players complement each other. When this happens, everyone's play rises and that is when a team will begin to truly compete for championships."
Lickliter is setting the Evansville program up for sustained success. That is the pedigree that was utilized at Butler. Most have heard of "The Butler Way". It is much more than a slogan for a program. As Lickliter explains, it is a way of life.
"The Butler Way is based on a set of core values. Values offer a lens through which decisions and actions are determined and this builds trust" Lickliter proclaimed. "An environment built on trust will allow individuals to reach their collective potential, but it is more than basketball – it is a way of life. Doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. It is those types of values that will be a cornerstone of our program going forward."
