CHICAGO -- Ricardo Patton was hired Monday as the new men's basketball coach at Northern Illinois.

The former Colorado coach replaces Rob Judson, who was fired earlier this month after his team finished the season with a 7-23 record.

Judson was 74-101 during his career with the Huskies.

Patton took the Buffaloes to the postseason six times, including two trips to the NCAA tournament.

His final season, which began with his announcement that he wouldn't return next year, was his worst. Colorado finished last in the Big 12 for the first time with a 7-20 record and only three conference wins.

The Buffaloes lost to Texas Tech in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament.

The 48-year-old Patton finished his 11-year tenure at Colorado with a 184-160 record, the second-winningest coach in school history.