Brad Underwood

Bradley Cole Underwood was born on December 14, 1963, in McPherson, Kansas. He began his collegiate basketball career as a guard at Hardin-Simmons University from 1982 to 1983 before transferring to Independence Community College. At Independence, he averaged 17 points per game and led the team to a second-place finish in the 1984 NJCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. He then played for Kansas State University under head coach Jack Hartman, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in radio and television communications in 1986. Underwood’s coaching journey started as a graduate assistant at Hardin-Simmons in 1986–87, followed by head coaching stints at Dodge City Community College (1988–1993) and Daytona Beach Community College (2003–2006). He also served as an assistant coach at Western Illinois (1993–2003) and Kansas State (2006–2012), where he advanced to associate head coach, and associate head coach at South Carolina (2012-2013).

Underwood’s head coaching career in NCAA Division I began at Stephen F. Austin in 2013, where he quickly built a dominant program. In three seasons, he led the Lumberjacks to three Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles, compiling an 89-14 record. His teams made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including upsets over VCU in 2014 and No. 3 West Virginia in 2016. Following this success, he moved to Oklahoma State for the 2016-17 season, guiding the Cowboys to a 20-13 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. In March 2017, Underwood was appointed the 18th head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team.

At Illinois, Underwood has revitalized the program, consistently positioning the team on the national stage. Since his arrival, Illinois has achieved six consecutive 20-win regular seasons and made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. His tenure includes 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. The 2023-24 season was particularly notable, with the Illini reaching the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 and finishing the year ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press poll. He has earned multiple contract extensions, with his current agreement running through the 2030-31 season. Underwood has also been recognized for his contributions off the court, serving on the Coaches Council of Coaches vs. Cancer and receiving the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award in 2023.