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Big Ten Basketball: Ranking the head coaches for 2018-19

By Bryan Mauro

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: A general interior view of the empty court during the semifinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: A general interior view of the empty court during the semifinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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7. Brad Underwood

Underwood has been a division one head coach for five seasons and is already on his third job. He is entering his sixth season as a head man, and his second as the current coach for the University of Illinois. One may think that three jobs in not even six full seasons as a head coach, he must not win very much. Looking at the way the Illinois basketball team played for some of the season last year, that would be a simple explanation.

The real reason for the different jobs, is due to Underwood being one of the most coveted coaches in the mid-major ranks. Underwood knows how to build programs and he knows how to win. He has won everywhere he has been and won a lot. The resume is not one to be taken lightly, his first Division 1 job was at Stephen F. Austin. While with the Lumberjacks he compiled a record of 89-14. Went to three straight NCAA tournaments, three straight Conference titles, and two NCAA tournament wins.

That resume is better than most power-five coaches. After the 2015 season the big-name schools came calling, the first one was the Oklahoma State Cowboys who had their own rebuild of their own. Underwood was thrown right into the Big 12 fire. Underwood put his stamp on the program and guided the Pokes to an unexpected NCAA tournament. After only one year at Oklahoma State, Underwood decided to leave for what he thought of as an excellent opportunity to coach in one of the best leagues in the country in the Big Ten.

Illinois had their struggles last year, and it was an exceptionally tough year for Underwood as a coach. The players on his roster were not always built for the havoc style that Underwood likes to play. As a coach he is known for a full court press and suffocating defense. With his second year about to get underway, Illinois is going to much different on the court, all of the players had the entire summer to hone their skills from last year. Superstar point guard Trent Frazier is only getting better as he continues to mature and play in the Underwood system. Having a team with the talent level of Illinois, and being in a hotbed of basketball talent, the Illini are a sleeping giant on the floor. Underwood is going to be the man that resurrects that program.

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