Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Head Coach
The Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Head Coach is one of the most prestigious positions in college basketball. The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents the University of Illinois in the Big Ten Conference. The team has a long history of success, with five Final Four appearances and one National Championship to their name.
The History of the Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team was first established in 1906. The team has had many successful seasons over the years, including five Final Four appearances and one National Championship. The team has also won the Big Ten regular season championship 17 times and the Big Ten Tournament championship three times.
One of the most successful coaches in the history of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is Lou Henson. Henson coached the team from 1975 to 1996 and led the team to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including five Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Final Four appearance. He also won two Big Ten championships during his tenure.
The current head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is Brad Underwood. Underwood was hired in 2017 and has already made an impact on the team. Underwood led the team to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 in his second season as head coach.
Who is Brad Underwood?
Brad Underwood was born on December 25, 1963, in McPherson, Kansas. He played basketball at Kansas State University from 1984 to 1986 and then transferred to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he played from 1986 to 1988. After graduating from Hardin-Simmons, Underwood became a high school basketball coach in Kansas.
Underwood began his college coaching career at Western Illinois University in 1992 as an assistant coach. He then became an assistant coach at Kansas State University in 2006. In 2012, he became the head coach at Stephen F. Austin University, where he led the team to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
After his success at Stephen F. Austin, Underwood was hired as the head coach at Oklahoma State University in 2016. He coached at Oklahoma State for just one season before being hired as the head coach at Illinois.
Brad Underwood's Coaching Philosophy
Brad Underwood's coaching philosophy is centered around playing fast and aggressive basketball. Underwood's teams are known for their high-scoring offenses and aggressive defenses. Underwood also emphasizes the importance of player development and focuses on improving his players both on and off the court.
Underwood's players have responded well to his coaching style. In his first season as head coach at Illinois, Underwood helped develop freshman guard Trent Frazier into one of the best players in the Big Ten Conference. Underwood has also recruited several talented players to Illinois, including Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn.
The Future of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball
The future of Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball looks bright under the leadership of Brad Underwood. Underwood has already made an impact on the team in just a few years as head coach, and he has recruited several talented players who have bought into his coaching philosophy.
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team has a rich history of success, and Underwood is looking to add to that success in the coming years. With his high-tempo style of play and focus on player development, the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is poised to become one of the top teams in the Big Ten Conference and the country.
