Why Illini Coach Brad Underwood should receive a lifetime Contract

The University of Illinois basketball team has had a whirlwind off-season. In March, Brad Underwood finally got the team into the Elite Eight before they eventually succumbed to the eventual National Champions, the UConn Huskies.

And then the offseason began. 

Shortly after the season ended, the Illini announced the return of Orlando Antigua to Brad Underwood’s staff. Orlando Antigua is a name that is recognized throughout the country as one of the best recruiters and talent developers in the country. His list of recruits can be put up against almost anybody, including names like Karl-Anthony Towns, Kofi Cockburn, Nerlens Noel, and Terrance Jones. Orlando has built enough of a reputation that he could get a job on almost any staff in the country. 

Arguably the biggest name in coaching, John Calipari, hired him away from Illinois and to the most prestigious basketball school in the country a few years back and Orlando had an open invitation to continue his relationship with John when he decided to move down to Arkansas.

But he chose not to.

He chose Brad.

And since that Orlando Antigua hire, the Illini have completely revamped their roster, bringing in 10 new players, including a couple of young kids as talented as we’ve ever brought to Champaign.

Will Riley is a 5-star who chose the Illini over blue blood programs like Kentucky and Arizona.

Kasparas Jakucionis is one of the most talked about players in Europe. But he chose to play for the Illini this upcoming season.

They both chose Brad.

And addition to those, Champaign has hosted various top players in the country, being involved with the elite teams in the battle for the best players.

It’s time to acknowledge the job Brad Underwood has done as the leader of this program and it’s time to establish to the rest of the country that Illinois basketball is serious about competing.

It’s time to give Brad Underwood a lifetime contract.

Quite simply, the Illinois job is not an easy one. It comes with a lot of pressure from an erratic fanbase. And yet Brad has now completed his 7th year as head coach and handled everything that the job comes with off the court masterfully. 

Many around the country thought that Illinois was nothing more than a stepping-stone destination and that success would always be fleeting in Champaign. However, Underwood didn’t flinch. Instead, the Fighting Illini won 20+ games every season thereafter and in that time won a conference championship and two Big Ten Tournament titles. There isn’t a coach in the Big Ten who has as many victories as Brad Underwood over the last five seasons.

Brad has proven that he will continue to be a forward thinker. Illinois has had some of its greatest recruiting classes under Brad. Recently, Underwood fully jumped all in on the transfer portal. That decision led to the Illini winning 29 games last season and making an Elite Eight run while being one of the nation’s most talked-about teams. He’s built successful teams around guards and been able to build teams around big men.

Do not forget Orlando Antigua

And that brings me back to Orlando Antigua. The hiring of Orlando shows that the best talent in the coaching profession wants to work with Brad. Between Orlando and Tim Anderson, Illinois now employs one of the best recruiting tandems in the nation. Keep in mind,  Tim Anderson had turned down $1million+ offers to coach elsewhere. The best assistant coaches in the country recognize the benefits of working with Brad Underwood and it’s time that Illinois does so too.

He’s proven himself worthy of becoming one of the few in the country to have that lifetime contract.

Josh Whitman needs to capitalize on the best move he has made, the hiring of Underwood. 

Give Brad the lifetime contract.

Thank you for reading Armchair Illini. For more Illinois Athletics and Big Ten content from Armchair Illini, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. Please use our Seatgeek code for $20 off your purchase on Seatgeek.com: ARMCHAIRILLINOIS. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing Illinois media outlets around!

Please use our Seatgeek code for $20 off your purchase on Seatgeek.com: ARMCHAIRILLINOIS. Please subscribe to our podcast, IlliniCast, the top Illinois fan podcast. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing Illinois media outlets around!