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Longtime Northwestern coach Joe McKeown plans to retire after the 2025-26 season

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern coach Joe McKeown, who has won nearly 800 games over four decades spent mostly leading the Wildcats and George Washington, plans to retire after the 2025-26 season, the school announced on Monday.

McKeown has a 777-432 record with 17 NCAA Tournament appearances in 39 years at Northwestern, George Washington and New Mexico State.

McKeown credited ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon, a Northwestern alum and trustee, for convincing him to take the job in 2008.

“Seventeen years ago on a golf course in Washington, D.C., Wildcat legend Michael Wilbon said I should look at Northwestern,” he said in a statement.