Brad Underwood Reflects on 'Dream Job' and Leading Illinois to Final Four

Underwood has believed Illinois could reach the Final Four for years, and on Saturday he fulfilled a 39-year coaching dream

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:21pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy and multiple perspectives of a high-stakes basketball game, with sharp planes of color and overlapping shapes representing the intensity of the tournament action.Underwood's long-held vision for Illinois basketball finally comes into focus as the team reaches its first Final Four in over two decades.Abilene Today

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood has reached his first career Final Four after guiding the team to a 71-59 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2026 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Underwood, who has been the head coach at Illinois for the past 9 seasons, has long believed the program could reach this milestone, despite falling short in previous tournament runs. He credits the support of the university administration, his coaching staff, and the team's players for finally breaking through to the national semifinals.

Why it matters

Reaching the Final Four is a significant accomplishment for the Illinois basketball program, which had not advanced this far since 2005. Underwood's belief in the team's potential and his persistence in building the program up to this level has paid off, validating his decision to take the 'dream job' at Illinois nearly a decade ago.

The details

Underwood, who began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Division III Hardin-Simmons in 1986, has spent 39 years working towards this moment. After assistant coaching stints at Kansas State and South Carolina, Underwood took over as the head coach at Illinois in 2017. Despite early tournament exits in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, Underwood remained confident that Illinois could reach the Final Four if the team continued to compete at a high level in the tough Big Ten conference.

  • On Saturday, March 30, 2026, Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four.
  • Illinois' last Final Four appearance was in 2005.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team, who has led the program to its first Final Four appearance since 2005 after 39 years in the coaching profession.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is the little-kid dream and the Dodge City, Dayton, Western Illinois, Hardin-Simmons, the Stephen F. Austin, the Oklahoma State – this is what you dream about at those places.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

“I hope the University of Illinois instills that. I'm gonna preach it, but it's been done before here. And it's very hard to do, but you look at our facilities, you look at our crowds, you've got a chance. It's something I just talk about. The day I feel like we can't compete for a national championship will be my last day as the coach at Illinois.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

“Coaches win games – I've got a great, great staff that makes me look good. We've been able to assemble a group of players that I love coaching – administrators win championships. And, you know, it's having that support and people that fight for you and make it possible.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

What’s next

Illinois will face the winner of the West Regional final in the 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four on April 5th.

The takeaway

Brad Underwood's unwavering belief in Illinois' potential and his tireless efforts to build the program have culminated in the team's first Final Four appearance in over 20 years. This milestone validates Underwood's decision to take on the 'dream job' at Illinois and showcases the power of persistence and a championship-level commitment.