Wheaton (Ill.) head men�s basketball coach Bill Harris has announced his retirement, effective at the conclusion of the 2008-09 school year. Harris has served 18 seasons as the head coach at Wheaton, compiling a record of 320-148, with a .684 winning percentage and a 157-97 (.618) record in CCIW play. His 157 league wins are sixth in conference history.

During his 24-year career as a collegiate head coach, Harris has compiled a record of 447-209 for a .681 career winning percentage. Harris guided Wheaton to 26-4 record this season and an 11-3 record in CCIW play. The Thunder won its ninth CCIW championship in school history and its third conference crown under Harris. Wheaton also picked up its first-ever CCIW tournament championship this year.

&&g-boxr&&Harris said of his decision: �The time is right to do this. As it says in Ecclesiastes, �To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun�.� Harris added, "I have been blessed to be able work with so many wonderful people and so many outstanding Christian athletes."

Harris has recorded more 20-win seasons than any coach in Wheaton history, with seven. His 320 wins is the second-highest total ever for a Wheaton men�s basketball coach, behind Lee Pfund�s 361 career wins at the school. Under Harris' leadership, Wheaton has appeared in the Division III NCAA Tournament six times. The program has produced 10 All-American selections and has had a player recognized as the CCIW�s most outstanding player six times under his guidance.