Both head basketball coaches and the athletic director are out at MacMurray College, following the release of football coach Brandon McCray and baseball coach/sports information director Kevin Vest earlier in the academic year.

Women's basketball coach Teri Johnson is heading for Lakeland, her alma mater. "This is my dream job," said Johnson, who served as head women's coach at MacMurray for the past two seasons, compiling a 15-36 record.

"I respect the people here. I trust the people here. I have a tremendous amount of pride and respect for the program and the institution, and I'm thrilled that I will be the next head coach to carry on that tradition. Just look at the longevity of many of the faculty -- that's a tribute to the institution."

Johnson replaces April Arvan, the winningest coach in the program's history, who after guiding Lakeland to five NCAA Tournament appearances and eight conference tournament championships in 13 seasons stepped aside in March to become a full-time faculty member at Lakeland.

Men's coach Steve Hettinga is leaving after one season for the head coaching position at Lake Superior State. MacMurray improved from 9-16 to 16-9 in his one season, going 14-4 in the SLIAC and tying for first in the regular season. Lake Superior cited MacMurray budget cutbacks as a reason Hettinga chose to leave.

Johnson returned to Lakeland to open this past season as MacMurray was one of the guests in Lakeland's tipoff tournament in November. She faced her alma mater and former head coach in the consolation game, a 69-39 Lakeland victory.

"We (Johnson and Arvan) have always kidded each other that we would coach together some day, knowing that it would never happen," Johnson said. "Well, it could happen. I think it would be wise to use her as a coach in some on- or off-court capacity. She has a desire to stick with it, so why not take advantage of that? I grew up under her, I coached under her. We have a lot of similarities, but I am different than her."