CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has agreed to a new six-year contract through the end of the 2030-31 season, Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Tuesday. The agreement is pending University of Illinois Board of Trustees approval at its meeting May 22.
"I am grateful to Brad and Susan for their commitment to the University of Illinois and Fighting Illini Men's Basketball," Whitman said. "Since Brad's arrival, he has rebuilt our proud program and reestablished Illinois as a perennial contender for the Big Ten championship and a regular presence in the NCAA Tournament. Against the backdrop of intense change transforming college athletics, he holds steadfast to his core values while continuing to evolve and adapt his program to compete at the highest level. Brad has become a trusted friend, and I look forward to partnering with him to realize the full potential of our men's basketball program in the years ahead."
"On behalf of my wife Susan and our entire family, a sincere thank you to all who make Illinois such a special place," Underwood said. "We have tremendous alignment here, starting with our outstanding athletic director Josh Whitman and from the University administration and Board of Trustees. That foundation created the environment where – led by all the tremendous players we've had along with a group of talented assistant coaches and a dedicated staff – we have been able to achieve success. I want to thank everyone who has been part of our program for their buy-in and commitment to winning.
"It remains an honor to serve as the head coach at the University of Illinois. Every night when I walk out that State Farm Center tunnel and see the sold-out crowd and am greeted by the Orange Krush, I feel that I'm the most fortunate coach in all of college basketball. The tremendous passion of our fans is felt everywhere, both at home and on the road. The support we receive from our fans and donors is truly unmatched. I look forward to many more exciting years ahead as we all continue to work relentlessly in pursuing a national championship for the Fighting Illini."
Underwood led the Illini to another successful year this past season, his eighth in Champaign. Despite losing all five starters and its top eight leading scorers from an NCAA Elite Eight team in 2024, Illinois spent the majority of the 2024-25 season ranked in the Top 25, totaled 22 victories on the year, made its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the Round of 32, and finished the year ranked 17th in kenpom. Perhaps its most impressive feat is that despite playing a top-10 rated schedule, Illinois recorded its sixth straight 20-win regular season, standing as one of just four teams nationally to carry that streak.
The Big Ten has been the nation's preeminent conference in recent years. Yet no team has fared better during this stretch than the Fighting Illini, who are 81-39 in Big Ten play the last six years of the Underwood era. Over that time, Illinois is tied for the most wins in league play (81) while owning the most league road wins (34) and tied for the most regular season and conference tournament wins combined (88). The Illini are the only program, meanwhile, with a winning Big Ten record in each of the last six years.
The 81 victories in Big Ten play mark the winningest six-year run in school history, with Underwood claiming Illinois' two all-time winningest Big Ten seasons (16 in 2021, 15 in 2022), three of the top five (14 in 2024), four of the top eight (13 in 2020), and five of the top 15 (12 in 2025) during this stretch.
Underwood has led Illinois to three Big Ten championships in the last five years, tied for most in the conference. He is the lone Illini coach, one of three active league coaches, and one of seven coaches in conference history to win multiple Big Ten Tournament titles, hoisting trophies in 2021 and 2024. He also directed the Illini to the 2022 Big Ten regular season crown, and in addition led Illinois to the most wins in the league in 2021.
Underwood's three Big Ten titles is tied for second-most in program history and trails only Harry Combes, who totaled four over his 20-year career. Underwood has joined Lou Henson as the only coaches in school history to lead the Orange and Blue to at least five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. His sixth, meanwhile, was precluded by the cancellation of the 2020 postseason due to COVID-19.
Illinois is one of only three Big Ten teams, and 13 teams nationally, to participate in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments. Illinois has earned a top 4 seed three times during this stretch, highlighted by the fourth No. 1 seed in school history in 2021. Illinois is one of 12 programs to advance in NCAA Tournament play at least four of the last five years highlighted by its 2024 run to the Elite Eight, the first Regional Final appearance for the UI program since 2005.
Illinois' resurgence during the Underwood era has also led to a packed State Farm Center and record ticket revenues each of the last four seasons, reaching an all-time high of more than $7.8 million this past year. Illinois has played in front of 43 sellouts at home since the return of fans following the pandemic while ranking in the top 13 nationally in attendance all four years.
Under his new contract, Underwood's agreement would extend by three years, to June 30, 2031, with the opportunity to earn up to four one-year extensions upon meeting certain performance benchmarks that could extend the contract through 2035. Underwood's annual salary would begin at $4.4 million. In addition, Underwood would be eligible for annual retention incentives on July 1 of each year, commencing with $1.15 million on July 1, 2026, and growing each year thereafter. Underwood would be eligible for various bonuses, including a one-time signing bonus and various longevity and performance bonuses. Underwood's contract would come with meaningful protections for the University against his departure to pursue other coaching opportunities.
The University's Board of Trustees will consider Coach Underwood's extension for approval at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
"I am grateful to Brad and Susan for their commitment to the University of Illinois and Fighting Illini Men's Basketball," Whitman said. "Since Brad's arrival, he has rebuilt our proud program and reestablished Illinois as a perennial contender for the Big Ten championship and a regular presence in the NCAA Tournament. Against the backdrop of intense change transforming college athletics, he holds steadfast to his core values while continuing to evolve and adapt his program to compete at the highest level. Brad has become a trusted friend, and I look forward to partnering with him to realize the full potential of our men's basketball program in the years ahead."
"On behalf of my wife Susan and our entire family, a sincere thank you to all who make Illinois such a special place," Underwood said. "We have tremendous alignment here, starting with our outstanding athletic director Josh Whitman and from the University administration and Board of Trustees. That foundation created the environment where – led by all the tremendous players we've had along with a group of talented assistant coaches and a dedicated staff – we have been able to achieve success. I want to thank everyone who has been part of our program for their buy-in and commitment to winning.
"It remains an honor to serve as the head coach at the University of Illinois. Every night when I walk out that State Farm Center tunnel and see the sold-out crowd and am greeted by the Orange Krush, I feel that I'm the most fortunate coach in all of college basketball. The tremendous passion of our fans is felt everywhere, both at home and on the road. The support we receive from our fans and donors is truly unmatched. I look forward to many more exciting years ahead as we all continue to work relentlessly in pursuing a national championship for the Fighting Illini."
Underwood led the Illini to another successful year this past season, his eighth in Champaign. Despite losing all five starters and its top eight leading scorers from an NCAA Elite Eight team in 2024, Illinois spent the majority of the 2024-25 season ranked in the Top 25, totaled 22 victories on the year, made its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the Round of 32, and finished the year ranked 17th in kenpom. Perhaps its most impressive feat is that despite playing a top-10 rated schedule, Illinois recorded its sixth straight 20-win regular season, standing as one of just four teams nationally to carry that streak.
The Big Ten has been the nation's preeminent conference in recent years. Yet no team has fared better during this stretch than the Fighting Illini, who are 81-39 in Big Ten play the last six years of the Underwood era. Over that time, Illinois is tied for the most wins in league play (81) while owning the most league road wins (34) and tied for the most regular season and conference tournament wins combined (88). The Illini are the only program, meanwhile, with a winning Big Ten record in each of the last six years.
The 81 victories in Big Ten play mark the winningest six-year run in school history, with Underwood claiming Illinois' two all-time winningest Big Ten seasons (16 in 2021, 15 in 2022), three of the top five (14 in 2024), four of the top eight (13 in 2020), and five of the top 15 (12 in 2025) during this stretch.
Underwood has led Illinois to three Big Ten championships in the last five years, tied for most in the conference. He is the lone Illini coach, one of three active league coaches, and one of seven coaches in conference history to win multiple Big Ten Tournament titles, hoisting trophies in 2021 and 2024. He also directed the Illini to the 2022 Big Ten regular season crown, and in addition led Illinois to the most wins in the league in 2021.
Underwood's three Big Ten titles is tied for second-most in program history and trails only Harry Combes, who totaled four over his 20-year career. Underwood has joined Lou Henson as the only coaches in school history to lead the Orange and Blue to at least five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. His sixth, meanwhile, was precluded by the cancellation of the 2020 postseason due to COVID-19.
Illinois is one of only three Big Ten teams, and 13 teams nationally, to participate in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments. Illinois has earned a top 4 seed three times during this stretch, highlighted by the fourth No. 1 seed in school history in 2021. Illinois is one of 12 programs to advance in NCAA Tournament play at least four of the last five years highlighted by its 2024 run to the Elite Eight, the first Regional Final appearance for the UI program since 2005.
Illinois' resurgence during the Underwood era has also led to a packed State Farm Center and record ticket revenues each of the last four seasons, reaching an all-time high of more than $7.8 million this past year. Illinois has played in front of 43 sellouts at home since the return of fans following the pandemic while ranking in the top 13 nationally in attendance all four years.
Under his new contract, Underwood's agreement would extend by three years, to June 30, 2031, with the opportunity to earn up to four one-year extensions upon meeting certain performance benchmarks that could extend the contract through 2035. Underwood's annual salary would begin at $4.4 million. In addition, Underwood would be eligible for annual retention incentives on July 1 of each year, commencing with $1.15 million on July 1, 2026, and growing each year thereafter. Underwood would be eligible for various bonuses, including a one-time signing bonus and various longevity and performance bonuses. Underwood's contract would come with meaningful protections for the University against his departure to pursue other coaching opportunities.
The University's Board of Trustees will consider Coach Underwood's extension for approval at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
