ANN ARBOR -- In April 2016, Northwestern coach Chris Collins called John Beilein with a recommendation.
Hire Billy Donlon.
This month, Collins called Beilein for a second time.
He wanted to hire Billy Donlon.
On Monday, it was made official. In a complex move with many layers, Northwestern formally announced that Donlon will join Collins' staff as an assistant coach.
With that, Donlon is making a unique inter-conference coaching switch and leaving Michigan after one year on Beilein's staff. It's a move, Donlon says, that comes only as a result of extenuating circumstances.
"This was not a professional move," Donlon told MLive on Monday.