By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – The FBI’s involvement in the unfolding college basketball recruiting scandal has come as a shock to Illinois State men’s basketball coach Dan Muller, although he welcomes the clean-up of his sport.

Muller told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he’s aware that some coaches will take any steps to land blue-chip players.

“Me personally, I still a lot of times don’t understand how you get the cheating done. I’m naive to that,” Muller said. “But you certainly hear a lot of stories about it. It’s pretty sad, but in a lot of ways it’s a great thing for our sport and for college athletics.”

PODCAST: Listen here to Muller’s interview with WJBC’s Scott Laughlin.

Muller said he’s shocked that some coaches could be going to prison for their actions.

Muller said the decision to play by the recruiting rules must be a philosophical choice made in advance.

“I think when you’re a young college coach, you also have to make a personal decision,” Muller advised. “Because if you try to decide in the moment, you can make the wrong decision.”

Muller credits his coaching mentor, Kevin Stallings, for setting an example by refusing to cheat.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].