Big Ten Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jun 4, 2020

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 20: Head coach Bruce Weber of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

6. Big Ten Basketball coach – Bruce Weber (Illinois, 2003-2012)

We’ve already touched on Self’s impact on Illinois and his departure in 2003, leaving a hole to fill for the Illini. Enter Weber, who had exceeded expectations in the MVC with Southern Illinois and looked like a prime candidate to succeed at Illinois. While there was good and bad during Weber’s time in Champaign, it’s the immediate good that really stands out.

He inherited a fantastic roster from Self and coached them into near champions. After a Sweet Sixteen run in his first season, he coached the 2005 Illinois team to the national title game after beginning their season 29-0. In both seasons they won the Big Ten regular-season title while finishing second twice later on during his tenure. In all, Weber led the Illini to six NCAA Tournaments, winning nine tournament games during his nine seasons with the job.

Unfortunately, Weber wasn’t able to bring the same level of recruits to Illinois and the success fizzled out. This was still a program contending for NCAA Tournament bids, but they weren’t threatening as title contenders anymore. Weber was fired in 2012, ushering in a disappointing era of basketball for the Illini. Things looked better this past season, but it’s clear that Weber was responsible for Illinois’s greatest coaching success of the century.

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