June 24, 2008

CHICAGO - Bill Comar, a native of Wilmette, Ill., and a 1989 graduate of New Trier High School, has been hired as an assistant men's basketball coach, Loyola University Chicago head coach Jim Whitesell announced today. Comar, who replaces Shay Boyle on the Ramblers' staff, spent the last seven seasons as the director of basketball operations at Xavier University.

"Being a Chicago area native, Bill knows the area very well and he has been a part of the great success Xavier has had, reaching the Elite Eight on a pair of occasions," Whitesell said. "He has also been a part of successful and tradition-rich programs at Dayton and Miami (Ohio) and brings a wealth of experience with him to Loyola."

As a member of both Thad Matta's and Sean Miller's staffs at Xavier, Comar helped the Musketeers to six NCAA Tournament berths, including Elite Eight appearances in 2003-04 and 2007-08. During Comar's tenure at Xavier, current New Orleans Hornets star David West was named National Player of the Year in 2003.

Prior to his stint at Xavier, Comar served four seasons on Oliver Purnell's staff at the University of Dayton, including two seasons as an assistant coach (1998-99 and 2000-2001) and two years as the coordinator of basketball operations (1997-98 and 1999-2000). At Dayton, Comar helped the Flyers to a pair of National Invitation Tournament berths and a NCAA Tournament appearance.

Comar also spent the 1996-97 season as an academic coordinator at Miami (Ohio) and was a member of the men's basketball staff there for three years as an administrative assistant and academic advisor.

Comar played on New Trier's 1989 team that advanced to the Elite Eight in the IHSA Tournament, then went on to attend Kenyon College where he played three seasons on the basketball team (1989-92) before graduating magna cum laude in 1993.