Where Does Illinois' Brad Underwood Land in On3's Top Big Ten Coaches?

Underwood was ranked behind Matt Painter (Purdue), Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and  Dusty May (Michigan) – a trio of coaches who have each led teams to the Final Four, a milestone Underwood has yet to reach. Still, the ranking is a testament to the consistency he has brought to Illinois and his knack for building competitive rosters year after year.

Although Underwood may not have reached the mountaintop of college basketball yet, his ability to retool on the fly has kept the Illini near the top of the Big Ten. He has shown a rare talent for both developing players and maximizing their unique skill sets. Whether it was unlocking Marcus Domask’s crafty post-up game as a “Booty Ball” specialist or tapping into Tomislav Ivisic’s surprising playmaking ability, Underwood gets the most out of his roster. His success in blending new pieces into a cohesive, winning unit – especially in the ever-shifting transfer portal era – is a skill few coaches have mastered.

In 2025, Underwood will be tasked with integrating a new-look roster featuring former five-star Andrej Stojakovic, point guard Mihailo Petrovic and Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic. But as On3’s ranking shows, few coaches are better equipped to bring together new pieces and keep a program competitive at the highest level.

As the Illini look to build off of last season’s Round of 32 appearance, Underwood remains the driving force behind Illinois’ resurgence. With elite talent, strong culture and a top‑five coach in the Big Ten, Illinois is again poised to make noise on the national stage.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Basketball's Best of the Century: No. 8 Luther Head

Illinois Soars Up 2026 Recruiting Rankings After Ethan Brown Commitment

Key Illinois Target and Top-10 2026 Recruit Schedules Visit With Big Ten Foe

Should the Chicago Bulls Commit to Former Illini Guard Ayo Dosunmu?

Kylan Boswell Raves About Illinois Freshman Keaton Wagler: 'He's Cold'