Brad Underwood agrees to contract extension at Illinois
Brad Underwood has agreed to a contract extension at Illinois. The school announced the news on Wednesday.
Underwood’s agreement will keep him in Champaign through the 2027-28 season on a 6-year contract. The extension must be approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees meeting, scheduled for May 19.
“Brad Underwood has led a remarkable resurgence of our men’s basketball program,” said athletic director Josh Whitman. “Under his strong leadership, we have won Big Ten championships, posted one of the best three-year runs in the history of Fighting Illini men’s basketball and the Big Ten Conference, and reestablished ourselves on the national stage.
“Our work is far from finished, and Brad and I are hungry to continue on our upward trajectory next year and in the years beyond, but the foundation has been laid for sustained success long into the future. I am grateful to Brad, Susan, and the entire Underwood family for their commitment to the University of Illinois, and I couldn’t be more excited about continuing our journey together.”
Underwood led Illinois to a share of the B1G regular season title with a 15-5 record in conference play. Last year, the Fighting Illini finished second in the league standings but went on to win the B1G Tournament.
“We came to the University of Illinois with the vision of restoring an elite program, and the success over these last three years has only strengthened our belief in what can ultimately be achieved here,” Underwood said. “With the alignment we have from the top-down, from University administration and Josh’s outstanding leadership, to the investment by our loyal donors in providing a world-class renovated Ubben practice facility, and to our passionate fans who sell out State Farm Center every night, everything is in place for us to compete for championships.
“I’ve said this before, but on behalf of my wife Susan and our family, I want to reiterate how thankful we are for the way we’ve been welcomed into the Champaign-Urbana and U of I communities. There is simply no better place to live, no better school to represent, and no better program to lead. I am honored to coach Fighting Illini Basketball and look forward to the many exciting years that lie ahead for our program.”
In his 5 seasons at Illinois, Underwood has compiled a 94-66 record with a 55-43 mark in B1G play. The Fighting Illini have made the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.