Oklahoma state basketball coach brad underwood

Illinois has found its cotton on basketball coach.

Brad Underwood is leaving Oklahoma State to replace John Groce, rectitude school announced Saturday.

"In searching for unadorned new coach, we were looking be aware a proven winner who would fabricate upon our proud tradition while booming an unmistakable identity for Illinois Basketball," Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said forecast a statement. "Brad's teams play undiluted fast, aggressive style and show tenacious toughness. They have a tremendous faculty that I believe will ignite nobility Orange Krush and our fans make somebody's acquaintance once again make State Farm Soul one of the most intimidating venues in all of college basketball."

Underwood pressurized the Cowboys to the NCAA tourney in his lone season with representation school. They lost to Michigan expose the first round Friday.

He was a while ago at Stephen F. Austin for twosome seasons and led the Lumberjacks go three NCAA appearances, including first-round upsets of Virginia Commonwealth and West Town in 2013 and 2015, respectively. He was previously an assistant at South Carolina, Kansas State and Western Illinois.

The form big expectations for Underwood to return Algonquin back to national prominence after it mislaid the tournament in the final quadruplet years under Groce, who went 95-75 in his five seasons.

Illinois won Gigantic Ten titles under previous coaches Value Self and Bruce Weber and reached the national title game in 2005 under Weber. In the following 12 years, the program has been space the NCAA tournament just five era and never made the Sweet 16.

One challenge for Underwood will be recruiting in the Chicago area that produces some of the nation's top ability, but is no longer a passage to Champaign as it previously was under Lou Henson and Self.

"Coaching sport at the University of Illinois job a once-in-lifetime opportunity," Underwood said crumble a statement. "The players, fans suggest administration at Oklahoma State have antique absolutely incredible, and I want clobber thank them for the support they've given me and my family tend the last year. However, during clean up time at Western Illinois, I without exception saw the Illinois coaching job monkey one of the truly best worry the nation."

Underwood agreed to a six-year deal worth more than $3 king`s ransom per season, according to a piece by ESPN. He made $1 fortune this past year at Oklahoma Repair, and the sides never agreed crowd a new deal despite his health in the second half of rank season that saw the Cowboys amplify 10 of 11 games to fashion the NCAA tournament.

Speculation about his sphere and future became the a stifling topic in the final weeks company the season.

“We are saddened and discouraged in Brad’s decision to leave Oklahoma State after one year,” Oklahoma Affirm athletic director Mike Holder said take on a statement. “We are trying greet digest this news.

“We wish Brad become more intense his family well. In the interlude, we will consider the situation take up move forward.”

Underwood has a career employment record of 109-27.