Brad Underwood

Brad Underwood is a college basketball coach known for developing programs and achieving conference championships, most notably with the Illinois Fighting Illini. After leading Stephen F. Austin to three consecutive Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles from 2013 to 2016, Brad Underwood established himself as a dominant force in collegiate basketball. During this period, Underwood earned the Joe B.

Hall Coach of the Year award in 2014 and was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year for three consecutive years (2014, 2015, 2016). In March 2017, Underwood was appointed the 18th head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team, where he has since revitalized the program and consistently positioned it on the national stage. He has secured three Big Ten Championships in five years: the 2021 Big Ten Tournament, the 2022 Big Ten Regular Season title, and the 2024 Big Ten Tournament. 6 in the Associated Press poll.

Underwood’s impact has been recognized with multiple contract extensions, solidifying his commitment to the program through the 2030-31 season. Underwood’s extensive coaching background and playing career laid the foundation for his Division I success. He later served as head coach at Dodge City Community College from 1988 to 1993 and at Daytona Beach Community College from 2003 to 2006, where he earned Mid-Florida Conference Coach of the Year honors in both 2004 and 2005. His experience also encompasses assistant coaching roles at Western Illinois (1993–2003), and Kansas State (2006–2012), where he rose to associate head coach, before serving as associate head coach at South Carolina (2012-2013).

Beyond the court, Underwood actively contributes to community initiatives, serving on the Coaches Council of Coaches vs. Cancer. In recognition of his dedication, he received the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award in 2023.