Brad Underwood stuns Oklahoma State, leaves to take Illinois job
After just one season at Oklahoma State, coach Brad Underwood is movin’ on up again.
ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reported Saturday that Underwood is departing Stillwater to join the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Illinois has hired Oklahoma State’s Brad Underwood, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 18, 2017
Illinois has already confirmed Underwood as the new coach in a statement.
Underwood, who coached the Cowboys just 24 hours prior in an NCAA Tournament loss against Michigan, apparently blindsided the school with his abrupt departure. One Oklahoma State official told ESPN’s Andy Katz that he was stunned by Underwood’s departure and learned about it via Twitter. Katz even noted that Underwood had spoken to him just after the game about Oklahoma State recruiting.
Underwood’s tenure at Oklahoma State lasted just less than a full year. He joined them last March from Stephen F. Austin, one of 2016’s prominent tournament Cinderellas. He led the Cowboys to a 20-13 record in his lone season there, salvaging a Big 12 campaign that started off 0-6 by winning 9 of the team’s next ten games and earning a tournament bid.
