The Illinois Fighting Illini have been in the middle of a very competitive and tight Big Ten Conference this season, surprising many with their ability to contend with the rest of the pack. That led to the program rewarding head coach Brad Underwood on Monday with a three-year contract extension. The deal keeps him with the school through the 2026 season, as he was originally signed through 2023 with the seven-year contract that he signed in 2017. The Illini signed him away from the Oklahoma State Cowboys to become their head man, and it is now starting to play off.
The team is ranked 23rd in the country and is currently contending for the Big Ten regular season championship heading in to the conference tournament later this month. They will for sure be a part of March Madness this season as well, one of many teams representing the conference in the field of 68. Heading in to Tuesday, the Illini were tied with the Michigan State Spartans and Wisconsin Badgers for second in the conference at 12-6.
This season's success is a major upgrade from Underwood's first two seasons with the school, which saw him go 14-18 and 12-21 respectively. He has had postseason success in the past, leading Stephen F. Austin to three NCAA Tournaments from 2013 to 2016, going 89-14 in that time. He then went on to go 20-13 in his lone season with the Cowboys, and is now 20-9 in an even tougher conference as his success continues to grow.
The team is ranked 23rd in the country and is currently contending for the Big Ten regular season championship heading in to the conference tournament later this month. They will for sure be a part of March Madness this season as well, one of many teams representing the conference in the field of 68. Heading in to Tuesday, the Illini were tied with the Michigan State Spartans and Wisconsin Badgers for second in the conference at 12-6.
This season's success is a major upgrade from Underwood's first two seasons with the school, which saw him go 14-18 and 12-21 respectively. He has had postseason success in the past, leading Stephen F. Austin to three NCAA Tournaments from 2013 to 2016, going 89-14 in that time. He then went on to go 20-13 in his lone season with the Cowboys, and is now 20-9 in an even tougher conference as his success continues to grow.
