Illinois has rewarded men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood for five consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and six straight 20-win seasons with a three-year contract extension that takes him through the 2030-31 season.
Athletic director Josh Whitman announced Tuesday that Underwood’s new deal also boosts his salary to $4.4 million for the upcoming season. The extension, which must be approved by the school’s Board of Trustees on May 22, also features annual retention bonuses (starting with $1.15 million on July 1, 2026), a one-time signing bonus and multiple performance bonuses.
The 61-year-old Underwood has produced a 165-101 record (.620) in eight years at Illinois. The Fighting Illini are one of four Division I schools that enter the 2025-26 season with at least six consecutive 20-win regular seasons.
The Illini also have won two Big Ten tournament titles (2021 and 2024) and the 2022 Big Ten regular-season crown during Underwood’s tenure. The 2024 squad reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight – the program’s deepest run since the 2005 team played in the NCAA championship game.
“It remains an honor to serve as the head coach at the University of Illinois,” Underwood said in a statement. “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.”
Once Underwood’s new contract runs out in 2031, he’ll have the opportunity to earn up to four one-year extensions based on the program’s performance.
–Field Level Media
