Harold Shelton III, BTN Studio Researcher, March 18, 2017

Brad Underwood leaves Oklahoma State after just one season to take the Illinois Head Coaching Job. I'll break the hire down by the numbers below.

He?s won everywhere he?s been so far. He?s 82 games over .500 in just four seasons, won two NCAA Tournament games at Stephen F. Austin and he?s yet to miss the big dance.

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Brad Underwood D-I Coaching Career:

– 109-27 in four seasons as Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State Head Coach
– Made NCAA Tournament in all four seasons
– Won NCAA Tournament game twice (both at Stephen F. Austin)
– Oklahoma State led nation in offensive efficiency this season

 

Underwood won 20 games in his first season at Oklahoma State after the Cowboys went 12-20 the previous season. He won at least 28 games in each of his three seasons at Stephen F. Austin. He will now try to turn around an Illinois program that hasn?t made the NCAA Tournament since 2013.

Brad Underwood D-I Coaching Career:

2016-17 – Oklahoma State – 20-13
2015-16 – Stephen F. Austin – 28-6
2014-15 – Stephen F. Austin – 29-5
2013-14 – Stephen F. Austin – 32-3
*Made NCAA Tournament each season

Underwood?s teams play an exciting style. They have been ranked in the Top 60 in offensive efficiency in each of his four seasons as a head coach. His Cowboys team led the country in efficiency this year and his offenses weren?t ranked lower than 57th in any of his three seasons with the Lumberjacks. In that same four-year span, the highest Illinois was ranked in offensive efficiency was 90th.

Oklahoma State Offense This Season:

Efficiency 125.8 – 1st – (DI Rank)
Off reb % – 38.3 – 4th
FT % – 78.8 – 5th
3-pt FG % – 40.3 – 8th

Pts per 100 possessions by Brad Underwood Coached Teams:

2016-17 – 125.8 – 1st (DI Rank)
*2015-16 – 111.1 – 57th
*2014-15 – 111.7 – 32nd
*2013-14 – 111.7 – 57th
*With Stephen F. Austin

Illinois Pts per 100 possessions in Last Four Seasons:

2016-17 – 107.9 – 112th (DI Rank)
2015-16 – 105.7 – 143rd
2014-15 – 106.3 – 90th
2013-14 – 105.9 – 147th

D-I Ranks in Effective FG % in Last Four Seasons:

Underwood Teams
2016-17 – 42nd
2015-16 – 17th
2014-15 – 11th
2013-14 – 56th

Illinois
2016-17 – 163rd
2015-16 – 156th
2014-15 – 235th
2013-14 – 302nd

 

So why did Underwood leave after one season? It could be because of money. We?re not sure what the contract details are at Illinois but it is likely that he received a substantial raise. Last year, he agreed to a five-year, $6.3 million deal. He made $1 million this past season, which was the lowest of any Big 12 coach.

Thanks for reading!