COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH ���������������������������������������������������������14-16 ASSISTANT COACH ORLANDO ANTIGUA ������������������������������������������������������17 ASSISTANT COACH RON COLEMAN ��������������������������������������������������������������17 ASSISTANT COACH STEPHEN GENTRY ��������������������������������������������������������18 ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH ��������������������������������������18 ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH GEOFF ALEXANDER ��������������������������������19 STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH ADAM FLETCHER ��������������������������19 DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS JOEY BIGGS ����������������������������������������������������20 VIDEO COORDINATOR ZACH HAMER ������������������������������������������������������������20 GRADUATE MANAGER KWA JONES ��������������������������������������������������������������20 ASSOCIATE AD FOR ACADEMIC SERVICES BRIAN RUSSELL ������������������������21 ASSISTANT AD FOR ACADEMIC SERVICES STEPHEN FUQUA ����������������������21 ATHLETIC TRAINER PAUL SCHMIDT ������������������������������������������������������������21 DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE MEDIA KELSEA GARTHOFF ����������������������������������21 OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR NICOLE ANDERSON ��������������������������������������������21 DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS ��������������������������������������������������22 DIA ADMINISTRATION / SUPPORT STAFF �����������������������������������������������23-24 ATHLETIC BOARD ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������24 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION ��������������������������������������������������������������������25 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������25 RICHMOND ENDOWMENT ����������������������������������������������������������������������������26 THE COACHING STAFF RICHMOND FAMILY ENDOWED MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD

“I dream big. And I dream bigger. Winning a national championship is something that can happen here, and I want to be part of that. I want to help lead this progam to that.” –– Brad Underwood at his introductory press conference (March 20, 2017)

Brad Underwood is in his third season at Defensively, Illinois ranked fourth nationally in as the Richmond Family Endowed Men’s Head turnover rate, forcing turnovers on 23.2 percent Basketball Coach following his hiring as the 18th of opponent possessions. The UI defense created head coach in program history in March 2017. its most turnovers (543) in the last 18 years while Underwood has won more than 67 percent of his collecting its most steals (240) since 2005. games through his first six years as a Division I head coach, recording four 20-win seasons while making Fans have come out to Center four NCAA Tournament appearances. in big numbers to watch the style of play of THE UNDERWOOD FILE Underwood’s teams at both ends of the floor. HOMETOWN Illinois was one of the most inexperienced teams in Illinois’ improvement in average home attendance McPherson, Kan. the country last season, with Underwood meshing from 2017 to 2018 ranked 13th nationally. The seven newcomers into his 11-player rotation. average increase of 1,231 fans, meanwhile, marked FAMILY Wife, Susan Despite that youth, and facing the No. 3-ranked the largest jump for the program in nearly 40 years Son, Tyler; Daughters, Katie & Ashley regular season schedule by kenpom, the Illini (1979). Illinois’ attendance average increased by an doubled their win total against conference foes additional 321 fans last season, with the average EDUCATION in 2019, winning eight games against Big Ten crowd of 12,935 ranking 23rd , competitors. nationally while marking the highest mark for the B.S., Radio & TV Communications, 1986 program in the last four years. PLAYING EXPERIENCE The Illini recorded nine wins against teams rated 1983 Hardin-Simmons University in the top-80 (kenpom), with four victories coming Underwood and his staff have also made waves on 1984 Independnce Community College against eventual NCAA Tournament teams. The the recruiting trail during their time in Champaign, 1985-86 Kansas State University improvement was highlighted by marquee wins signing , the program’s highest-rated COACHING EXPERIENCE over two top-15 ranked teams. Illinois defeated guard recruit since 2002, landing a national top- 1988 (1 YR) Graduate Assistant No. 13 Maryland at Madison Square Garden and 20 class in 2019, and inking Kofi Cockburn, the Hardin-Simmons University knocked off No. 9-ranked and eventual Big Ten program’s highest-rated center recruit since 2010. 1989 (1 YR) Assistant Coach champion and Final Four participant Michigan Dodge City Community College State at home, leading to a court rush celebration Underwood came to Illinois from Oklahoma State, by Orange Krush students at the buzzer. where he led OSU to a 20-win season and NCAA 1990-93 (4 YRS) Head Coach Tournament appearance. The Cowboys had one Dodge City Community College Illinois had 58 percent of its scoring come from of the most exciting and prolific offenses in the 1994-2003 (10 YRS) Assistant Coach newcomers, which was the highest percentage country, ranking eighth in the NCAA in scoring Western Illinois University of any team in the Big Ten. For the first time (85.7 points per game) and leading the nation 2004-06 (3 YRS) Head Coach in school history, a true-freshman led Illinois in in adjusted offensive efficiency (kenpom). The Daytona Beach Community College scoring on the season as rookie Ayo Dosunmu Cowboys ranked eighth nationally in 3-point field averaged 13.8 points. And in conference play, goal percentage (.402) and fourth in the country in 2007 (1 YR) Director of Operaions Illinois had true-freshmen as its top two leading offensive rebounding percentage (.383). Kansas State University scorers for the first time ever in Dosunmu (14.8 2008-11 (4 YRS) Assistant Coach ppg) and (13.5 ppg). Oklahoma State finished fifth in the Big 12 with a Kansas State University 9-9 conference record in a season where the Big 12 2012 (1 YR) Associate Head Coach Year one saw Underwood lay the foundation for was rated as the top conference in the nation. That Kansas State University the Illini program. Playing at the second-fastest was a dramatic improvement for the Cowboys, who tempo in the Big Ten, Illinois topped 80 points in went 3-15 in league play the year prior. Oklahoma 2013 (1 YR) Associate Head Coach 12 games and averaged 75.8 points on the season. State came on strong during the second half of the University of South Carolina That marked the UI’s highest scoring average in 13 season, winning 10 of 11 games from Jan. 21-Feb. 2014-16 (3 YRS) Head Coach years, since the 2005 national runner-up season. 25, 2017, which included a pair of five-game Stephen F. Austin University The offense was aggressive in all phases, recording winning streaks. 2017 (1 YR) Head Coach the team’s best offensive rebounding rate (.340) Oklahoma State University in the last 10 years while also posting the squad’s Following that successful turnaround at OSU, he highest free throw rate (.331) since 2008 and accepted the Illinois job owning a four-year total 2018- (3RD YR) Head Coach making the most free throws (478) since 2002. of 109 wins, third-most ever by a NCAA Div. I University of Illinois head coach.

14 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE COACHING STAFF RICHMOND FAMILY ENDOWED MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD

Underwood arrived in Stillwater following a dominant run at Stephen F. Austin where he led the Lumberjacks to Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles in each of his three seasons. Underwood compiled an 89-14 record at SFA, tied with Brad Stevens (Butler, 2008-10) for the most wins by a head coach in his first three seasons at an NCAA school.

He led SFA to a 28-6 overall record and NCAA Round of 32 appearance in 2016. The Lumberjacks rolled past No. 3 West Virginia in the first round, 70-56, before narrowly missing a trip to the Sweet 16 with a 76-75 defeat to No. 6 Notre Dame in the second round.

That Stephen F. Austin squad was efficient on both sides of the ball, ranking 57th nationally on offense and 38th on defense. The Lumberjacks averaged 80.2 points accompanied by high-pressure defense that forced the highest turnover rate in the country (.259).

Underwood’s second SFA team went 29-5 in 2015, also advancing Illinois head coach Brad Underwood with his wife, Susan, son Tyler, and daughters, to the NCAA Tournament. The Lumberjacks ranked seventh in the Ashley (left) and Katie. nation in field goal percentage (.487) and led the NCAA in assists (18.7 apg). UNDERWOOD’S DI HEAD COACHING RECORD His debut season in Nacogdoches in 2014 included a 29-game University of Illinois winning streak and culminated in a 32-3 record and NCAA Round Overall / Conf. (Finish) Postseason of 32 appearance after a victory over No. 5 seed VCU in the 2018-19 12-21 / 7-13 (T-10th) opening round. Underwood earned the Joe B. Hall award, given to 2017-18 14-18 / 4-14 (T-11th) the nation’s top first-year coach. Two Years 26-39 (.400) / 11-27 (.289) Oklahoma State University Overall / Conf. (Finish) Postseason 2016-17 20-13 / 9-9 (5th) NCAA 1st Round Stephen F. Austin University Overall / Conf. (Finish) Postseason 2015-16 28-6 / 18-0 (1st) NCAA Round of 32 2014-15 29-5 / 17-1 (1st) NCAA 1st Round 2013-14 32-3 / 18-0 (1st) NCAA Round of 32 Three Years 89-14 (.864) / 53-1 (.981) TOTAL: Six Years 135-66 (.672) • Four NCAA Tournament Appearances • Two NCAA Tournament Wins • Three Conference Championships • Three Conference Tournament Titles Underwood in the NCAA Tournament 2017 First Round: #7 Michigan 92, #10 Oklahoma State 91

2016 First Round: #14 Stephen F. Austin 70, #3 West Virginia 56 Round of 32: #6 Notre Dame 76, #14 Stephen F. Austin 75

2015 First Round: #5 Utah 57, #12 Stephen F. Austin 50

2014 First Round: #12 Stephen F. Austin 77, #5 VCU 75 Round of 32: #4 UCLA 77, #12 Stephen F. Austin 60

2019-20 ILLINOIS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK // 15 THE COACHING STAFF RICHMOND FAMILY ENDOWED MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD

Prior to taking over at Stephen F. Austin, Underwood served the 2013 season as associate head coach at South Carolina under Frank Martin. He went to Columbia with Martin after serving on his bench for five seasons as an assistant at Kansas State, with his final season elevated to associate head coach. Underwood spent his first year at K-State in the role of director of operations for then-head coach .

Underwood had two head coaching stints in the junior college ranks, compiling a 70-24 record in three seasons at Daytona Beach (2004-06) and a 57-63 mark in four years at Dodge City (1990-93). In between those opportunities, Underwood was entrenched in the state of Illinois for 10 seasons, as an assistant coach for Jim Kerwin at Western Illinois from 1994-2003.

Underwood is a December 1986 graduate of Kansas State. He played in Manhattan for the legendary , K-State’s all-time winningest coach. Former Illinois head coach also played and coached for Hartman at Kansas State.

Underwood began his college career at Hardin-Simmons, where he later worked as a graduate assistant. Hardin-Simmons was the first college job for , the Fighting Illini’s all-time winningest coach, and whose name permanently adorns the court at State Farm Center.

Brad and his wife, Susan, have a son, Tyler, and two daughters, Katie and Ashley. Tyler is a member of the Fighting Illini basketball team and Katie also is a U of I student.

UNDERWOOD’S DI HEAD COACHING RECORD VS. ALL OPPONENTS ILL TOT Kansas State...... 0-0...... 1-1 Prairieview A&M...... 0-0...... 1-0 Opponent W-L W-L Lamar...... 0-0...... 6-0 Purdue...... 0-2...... 0-2 Abilene Christian...... 0-0...... 3-0 Long Beach State...... 0-0...... 1-0 Rogers State...... 0-0...... 1-0 Appalachian State...... 0-0...... 1-0 Longwood...... 1-0...... 1-0 Rutgers...... 3-0...... 3-0 Arizona State...... 0-0...... 0-1 LSU-Shreveport...... 0-0...... 1-0 Samford...... 0-0...... 1-0 Arkansas...... 0-0...... 1-0 Marshall...... 1-0...... 2-0 Sam Houston State...... 0-0...... 8-0 Arkansas Pine-Bluff...... 0-0...... 1-0 Maryland...... 1-1...... 1-2 Southeastern Louisiana...... 0-0...... 3-0 Arkansas Tech...... 0-0...... 3-0 McNeese State...... 0-0...... 3-0 Southern...... 1-0...... 1-0 Augustana (Ill.)...... 1-0...... 1-0 Memphis...... 0-0...... 1-0 TCU...... 0-0...... 2-0 Austin Peay...... 1-0...... 2-0 Michigan...... 0-2...... 0-3 Texas...... 0-0...... 1-2 Baylor...... 0-0...... 0-4 Michigan State...... 1-2...... 1-2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi...... 0-0...... 6-1 Cal State Northridge...... 0-0...... 2-0 Minnesota...... 1-2...... 1-2 Texas Southern...... 0-0...... 1-0 Campbell...... 0-0...... 1-0 Mississippi College...... 0-0...... 1-0 Texas State...... 0-0...... 2-0 Central Arkansas...... 0-0...... 4-0 Mississippi Valley State...... 1-0...... 1-0 Texas Tech...... 0-0...... 2-0 Connecticut...... 0-0...... 1-0 Missouri...... 1-1...... 1-1 Towson...... 0-0...... 1-0 DePaul...... 1-0...... 1-0 Nebraska...... 2-2...... 2-2 Tulane...... 0-0...... 0-1 East Tennessee State...... 1-0...... 1-1 New Mexico State...... 0-1...... 0-1 Tulsa...... 0-0...... 1-0 Elmhurst...... 0-0...... 1-0 New Orleans...... 0-0...... 4-0 UAB...... 0-0...... 0-1 Evansville...... 1-0...... 1-0 Nicholls State...... 0-0...... 3-0 UCLA...... 0-0...... 0-1 Florida Atlantic...... 0-1...... 0-1 North Carolina...... 0-0...... 0-1 UNC-Wilmington...... 0-0...... 1-0 Georgetown...... 0-1...... 1-1 North Carolina Central...... 1-0...... 1-0 UNLV...... 1-1...... 1-1 Gonzaga...... 0-1...... 0-1 North Texas...... 0-0...... 2-0 Utah...... 0-0...... 0-1 Grand Canyon...... 1-0...... 1-0 Northern Iowa...... 0-0...... 0-2 UT Martin...... 1-0...... 1-0 Henderson State...... 0-0...... 1-0 Northwestern...... 2-2...... 2-2 UT Tyler...... 0-0...... 1-0 High Point...... 0-0...... 1-0 Northwestern State...... 0-0...... 8-0 VCU...... 0-0...... 1-0 Houston Baptist...... 0-0...... 6-0 Notre Dame...... 0-1...... 0-2 Wake Forest...... 0-1...... 0-1 Incarnate Word...... 0-0...... 5-0 Ohio State...... 1-2...... 1-2 Western Michigan...... 0-0...... 1-0 Indiana...... 1-3...... 1-3 Oklahoma...... 0-0...... 2-0 West Virginia...... 0-0...... 2-1 Iowa...... 0-4...... 0-4 Oral Roberts...... 0-0...... 2-0 Wichita State...... 0-0...... 1-0 Iowa State...... 0-1...... 0-4 Ouachita Baptist...... 0-0...... 1-0 Wisconsin...... 0-4...... 0-4 James Madison...... 0-0...... 1-0 Our Lady of the Lake...... 0-0...... 1-0 Xavier...... 0-1...... 0-2 Kansas...... 0-0...... 0-2 Penn State...... 0-3...... 0-3 TOTAL...... 26-39...... 135-66

16 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE COACHING STAFF ORLANDO ANTIGUA RON COLEMAN ASSISTANT COACH ASSISTANT COACH

Orlando Antigua is in his third Ron “Chin” Coleman is in his third season as an assistant coach after season as an assistant coach after joining the Fighting Illini staff in joining the Fighting Illini staff in April 2017. April 2017.

Antigua works with the frontcourt He works with the guards and players and has mentored a pair mentors point guard Ayo Dosunmu, of Illini who had outstanding who earned 2019 Big Ten All- seasons during his first two years in Freshman Team accolades after Champaign. In 2018, Leron Black becoming the first true-freshman earned honorable mention All-Big ever to lead the Illini in scoring. Ten accolades after leading Illinois in scoring and rebounding. Last Coleman came to Champaign after season, Giorgi Bezhanishvili arrived serving two years as an assistant at as an under-the-radar recruit but UIC under coach Steve McClain. went on to start every game in the The Flames were one of the nation’s post, leading the team in rebounding and ranking among NCAA leaders most improved teams in 2017, recording 17 victories to increase its in field goal percentage while breaking the Illini school single-game win total by 12 over the previous season. While at UIC, Coleman scoring record by a freshman. helped recruit and mentor Dikembe Dixson, the 2016 Freshman of the Year. Antigua arrived at Illinois following two and a half seasons as head coach at South Florida. He also served as head coach of the Dominican Prior to UIC, Coleman spent three years as an assistant at Bradley under Republic men’s national team from 2013-15. During that stint in 2014, then-coach Geno Ford, earning the title of assistant head coach in his the Dominican Republic advanced to the bracket round of the FIBA final season of 2015. World Cup for the first time in the country’s history. Coleman entered the college ranks as an assistant for Tim Miles at Antigua earned the head position at South Florida after serving as an Colorado State, helping the Rams to 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament assistant for John Calipari for six seasons. He spent the 2009 season appearance during the 2012 season. He then followed Miles to Nebraska, at Memphis before joining Calipari at Kentucky for five years from serving as director of player development before returning to his home 2010-14. Named the top assistant coach in the country under 40 by state for the assistant coaching position at Bradley. ESPN.com in 2012, Antigua helped assemble five straight No. 1-ranked recruiting classes during his time at UK. The Wildcats compiled a 152- Before joining the profession at the collegiate level, Coleman coached 37 record during his tenure, highlighted by three Final Four appearances one of the top AAU programs in the country, the Mac Irvin Fire, from and culminating in the 2012 NCAA Championship. 2005-11. He also coached at the prep level in , leading Benjamin Mays Academy before becoming associate head coach at Whitney Young. Prior to joining Calipari at Memphis, Antigua spent five seasons at his alma mater, Pittsburgh. He was part of then-head coach Jamie Dixon’s A Chicago native and graduate of South Shore, Coleman began his staff, three as director of basketball operations (2004-06) and two as collegiate career at Weber State. He then transferred to Lamar where he assistant coach (2007-08) while Pitt compiled a 132-40 record. led the Cardinals in scoring for three straight seasons, recording 1,316 points to rank 11th on the school’s all-time scoring list. Antigua played at Pittsburgh from 1992-95, serving as two-time team captain. He won the USBWA’s Most Courageous Athlete in 1994, an Coleman earned a bachelor’s degree in applied arts and science from honor that is presented annually to a player who displays courage on and Lamar in 1997. off the court.

After graduating from Pittsburgh in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in social sciecne, Antigua became the first player of Latin American descent to play for the famed Harlem Globetrotters, touring the world for seven years until 2002. The Globetrotters at that time were owned by Illinois alumnus and 2017 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Mannie Jackson.

Born in the Dominican Republic but raised in The Bronx borough of New York City, Antigua attended St. Raymond’s High School. As a senior, he earned McDonald’s All-America and Parade magazine All- America second-team honors and was also named All-New York City.

Fluent in Spanish, Antigua and his wife, Dana, have a daughter, Olivia, and a son, Orlando Anthony.

2019-20 ILLINOIS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK // 17 THE COACHING STAFF STEPHEN GENTRY JAMALL WALKER ASSISTANT COACH ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH

Stephen Gentry is in his first season Jamall Walker is in his eighth season as an assistant coach after joining the with the Fighting Illini after joining Fighting Illini staff in August. He has the program in April 2012, and his reunited with coach Brad Underwood first as assistant to the head coach/ after spending the last two years at Gonzaga as director of operations for defensive coordinator. coach Mark Few. He served as interim coach during The Bulldogs had a stellar 65-9 record the 2017 NIT, leading the Orange over Gentry’s two seasons, winning and Blue to a quarterfinal appearance back-to-back West Coast Conference following victories over Valparaiso titles and twice advancing to the second and Boise State. weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga went 32-5 in 2018, winning Walker came to Champaign from both the West Coast regular season and tournament championship, and made Ohio University, where he served on an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. The former UI coach ’s staff 2019 Bulldogs, meanwhile, were 33-4 as an assistant for a total of three overall and a perfect 16-0 en route to the WCC regular season title. Gonzaga years, in 2009 and again from 2011-12. In between those stints, he spent won the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, held the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll one season as director of basketball operations for Sean Miller at Arizona for a total of five weeks, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, in 2010. advancing to the Elite Eight.

Gentry was alongside Underwood for four-plus seasons prior to his tenure at A former point guard himself, Walker mentored one of the best in the Gonzaga. He was at Stephen F. Austin for three years, Oklahoma State for one, nation in Ohio’s D.J. Cooper, a two-time first-team All-MAC selection and was part of Underwood’s original staff at Illinois, as assistant to the head and 2012 MAC Tournament MVP. coach, during the spring of 2017 before departing for Spokane. Gentry’s four seasons with Underwood saw their teams go a combined 109-27, including Before arriving at Ohio, Walker spent one year as an assistant coach at three conference championships and four NCAA Tournaments. Murray State in 2008, preceded by a one-year stint as an assistant at St. Louis in 2007. Gentry has been on staff for five conference championship teams in the last six seasons, and part of teams that have participated in 10 of the last 12 NCAA Walker entered the Division I coaching ranks at Ball State, where he Tournaments – including each of the last six years – recording a total of 11 Tournament wins. He also has contributed to three different teams that have was an assistant and recruiting coordinator for two years from 2005- had the number one offensive efficiency ranking in the country: Gonzaga in 06. During his time in Muncie, Walker played a key role in recruiting 2019, Oklahoma State in 2017, and Gonzaga as a player in 2006. Chicagoland guard Maurice Acker, the 2006 MAC Freshman of the Year.

Gentry spent the 2017 season as director of player development at Oklahoma Prior to Ball State, Walker spent two seasons as an assistant coach and State, where the Cowboys won 20 games and advanced to the NCAA recruiting coordinator at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Tournament. Prior to OSU, Gentry was an assistant coach at Stephen F. Okla. While there he helped lead Redlands to a runner-up finish in the Austin. The Lumberjacks went a combined 89-14 during his three seasons, 2004 NJCAA DI tournament. winning three straight Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles to qualify for the NCAA Tournament all three years, twice advancing to Walker’s coaching career began as a varsity assistant at Alton (Ill.) high the Round of 32. SFA went 32-3 in 2014, 29-5 in 2015, and 28-6 in 2016 for the winningest three-year run in Southland history. school during the 2000 season before serving in the same position at F.L. Schlagle High School in Kansas City, Kan., from 2001-02. Prior to SFA, Gentry spent six seasons at Texas A&M, including his final two as director of basketball operations under then-coach Billy Kennedy. Walker played point guard at Saint Louis for four years from 1996-99, That followed four years as video coordinator for former Texas A&M (now helping lead the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament in 1998. He earned Maryland) coach . The Aggies won 129 games during his six Conference USA All-Freshman Team recognition in 1996 and ranks season in College Station, participating in four NCAA Tournaments. Gentry seventh in St. Louis school history with 350 career assists. came to A&M after one year as a video intern for the NBA’s Miami Heat under Pat Riley. Walker graduated from St. Louis in 2000 with a degree in secondary During his coaching career, Gentry has worked with eight players who have education. He has a daughter, JaShawn, and he and his wife, Rebekah, gone on to play in the NBA. Among the notable players he has mentored have two sons, Braylon and Andrew. include Khris Middleton at Texas A&M, at Stephen F. Austin and Jeffrey Carroll at Oklahoma State.

Gentry played four seasons of college basketball at Gonzaga, lettering three years. During his career the Zags went 107-20, won four consecutive WCC titles and participated in four NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the second round three times and the Sweet 16 in 2006.

Gentry earned two degrees from Gonzaga, a bachelor’s in sport management in 2005 and a master’s in sport and athletic administration in 2006.

Gentry is married to the former Leah Wahlgren, who played college basketball at Oklahoma State. They have a daughter, Svea, and son, Gunnar.

18 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE COACHING STAFF GEOFF ALEXANDER ADAM FLETCHER ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD COACH STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

Geoff Alexander is in his third Adam Fletcher is in his fifth season as season as assistant to the head coach/ strength and conditioning coach for offensive coordinator after joining the Fighting Illini men’s basketball the Fighting Illini staff in July 2017. team after joining the program in August 2015. Alexander arrived in Champaign after spending five seasons as an Fletcher came to Illinois from assistant coach at Evansville. During Towson, where he served three his time serving under then-head years as the Tigers’ strength and coach Marty Simmons, the Purple conditioning coach. After less Aces recorded three 20-plus win than a year on the job, he was seasons. promoted to director of strength and conditioning, leading the department Included in that run was a 25-win while working with Towson’s men’s campaign in 2016 that equaled basketball, men’s lacrosse and golf the most wins for Evansville in its programs. Division I history and culminated in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title-game appearance. The 2015 Evansville squad, During his time at Towson, the 2013 team made the largest single-season meanwhile, won 24 games, highlighted by the CollegeInsider.com turnaround in NCAA history while the 2014 team won a program Tournament championship. Division I record 25 games. Towson also won its first two postseason games as a D1 program. Prior to his tenure at Evansville, Alexander spent one year as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois in 2012. That followed five years as an assistant Prior to arriving at Towson, Fletcher spent two years as assistant strength at Idaho State from 2007-11, where he also served as the Bengals’ coach at Michigan, working primarily with men’s basketball. The recruiting coordinator. Wolverines went 45-24 during his two seasons in Ann Arbor, winning a share of the 2012 Big Ten title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament Alexander served three years as an assistant for Underwood at Daytona both years. State College from 2004-06. The Falcons compiled a 70-24 record, including a 25-5 mark in 2006, and won three consecutive Mid-Florida His professional experience began with a series of internships, including Conference Championships. He began in the junior college ranks as an IMG Academy and his alma mater, Miami-Ohio. assistant at Jacksonville (Texas) College during the 2003 season. Fletcher was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter on the Alexander’s coaching career started as a two-year graduate assistant at RedHawks basketball team, playing from 2007-10. He served as team his alma mater, Western Illinois, from 2001-02. He competed for the captain as a senior and also was named the team’s top defensive player. Leathernecks for two seasons from 1999-2000 while Underwood was a WIU assistant, following two seasons of play at Southeastern (Iowa) Fletcher earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Miami University Community College. in 2010, a Master of Science (Strength and Conditioning) degree from Edith Cowan University in 2011, and an associate’s degree in science Alexander had a stellar prep career at Lincoln High School. He played for (Massage Therapy) from in 2019. his father, Neil, the winningest coach in school history. Geoff graduated from Lincoln in 1995 and still ranks in the program’s top-10 for career A native of St. Albans, W.Va., Fletcher is a Certified Strength and points, rebounds and assists. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012, along with his younger Association, a Certified Sports Performance Coach by USA Weightlifting, brother, Gregg. They joined their father, who is a 2004 IBCA Hall of and a licensed massage therapist in the state of Illinois. He also holds first Fame inductee. aid, CPR and AED certifications.

Alexander earned two degrees from Western Illinois, a bachelor’s in 2000 He is married to the former Kilee Taflinger, who is the strenth and and a master’s in 2002. He is married to the former Kiersten Coleman. conditioning coach for the Fighting Illini women’s basketball team. The The Alexanders have two daughters, Braelyn and Kinley, and a son, Jax. Fletchers reside in Champaign with their wonder dog, Wrigley.

2019-20 ILLINOIS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK // 19 THE COACHING STAFF JOEY BIGGS ZACH HAMER DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS VIDEO COORDINATOR

Joey Biggs is in his third season as Zach Hamer is in his first season as director of operations after joining video coordinator after joining the the Fighting Illini staff in April Fighting Illini program in June. 2017. Hamer spent the last two years on Biggs came to Illinois after spending staff with the Los Angeles Lakers. He 15 years at Oklahoma State. He was an advance scout this past season served 11 years as assistant athletic after debuting as a coaching associate director for basketball, overseeing in 2018. Hamer handled opponent travel, budget, scheduling, special events, alumni relations and scouting, with a focus on defensive operational functions. game planning, and created video playbooks on all NBA teams. Prior to working with the Cowboys men’s basketball program, Biggs Along with his NBA experience, oversaw all marketing efforts of the he spent the 2018 season in the Oklahoma State athletic department from 2002-06. He was responsible WNBA, serving as video coordinator for the Indiana Fever. for season ticket campaigns, ticket office operations, merchandising, internet operation, contracts/vendor relationships, and all game-day During his time in the professional ranks, he also gained extensive staging. experience in player development.

During his tenure, OSU set an all-time record for football season ticket Hamer was a four-year student manager at Vanderbilt from 2013-17, sales in 2004, as well as records for total ticket revenues, merchandise working for coaches Kevin Stallings and Bryce Drew. He served as head revenues, multimedia rights revenues and soft-drink revenues. manager during his final two seasons, culminating in consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with the Commodores in 2016 and 2017. Before his arrival at Oklahoma State, Biggs spent two years as associate director of athletics/external affairs at Emporia State University. He was A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Hamer earned a bachelor’s degree in charge of all fundraising, development, marketing, corporate sales, from Vanderbilt University in human and organizational development ticketing campaigns and media relations activities. Biggs also oversaw successful funding efforts to begin a women’s soccer program. During his in 2017. era, Emporia State athletics established all-time marks for annual monies raised and total revenues generated.

He also served as director of development for the Tulsa Sports Commission from May 1999 to September 2000. KWA JONES

He served as an assistant basketball coach and assistant athletic director GRADUATE MANAGER at his alma mater, Ottawa University, from 1996-99. Biggs participated in basketball and golf while attending Ottawa, earning a bachelor’s Kwa Jones is in his first season as degree in history in 1997. He then received a master’s degree in sports graduate manager for the Fighting administration from Kansas in 1998. Illini.

Joey and his wife, the former Michelle Arndt, have two daughters, Jenika Jones spent the last three years as an and Jackelynn. on-court student manager for coach Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars. He graduated from the University of Houston in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration.

He attended Jacksonville (Texas) College for two years, working as a basketball manager while earning an Associate of Science degree in 2016.

A native of Nacogoches, Texas, Jones played basketball for four seasons at Nacogdoches High School.

Jones is enrolled in the master’s program in recreation, sport and tourism.

20 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE COACHING STAFF BRIAN RUSSELL PAUL SCHMIDT ASSOCIATE AD, ACADEMIC SERVICES ATHLETIC TRAINER Dr. Brian Russell was named Associate Athletics Director Paul Schmidt is in his eighth season in charge of athletic for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Development training for the Illini men’s basketball program. in August 2018. Now in his 26th year working in college athletics, Dr. Russell joined the Illinois staff following a 15-year Schmidt is in his 14th year at Illinois after previously stint at the University of Tennessee, where he was serving six seasons as athletic trainer for the Illini women’s serving as the Director of Student-Athlete Academic basketball team. Support Services, which included oversight of academic counseling and day-to-day academic services for all The Lombard, Illinois, native spent four years as the head Tennessee student-athletes. Additionally, Russell was athletic trainer at Wayne State University in Detroit, responsible for providing leadership and development to the associate and assistant Michigan, before coming to Illinois in August 2006. Prior to that, he spent eight years directors, academic counselors and graduate assistants within the Thornton Center working as an athletic trainer at Syracuse University. on the UT campus. Schmidt received his B.S. in physical education from Northern Illinois University As Associate Director, Russell led the football division that had oversight of academic in 1992 before spending one year as an athletic trainer at the High Plains Sports support and development of football student-athletes, and as assistant director, he Medicine Clinic in Hays, Kansas. oversaw the Programs and Services area including the Thornton Center’s tutorial assistance program, the Maximizing Academic Potential (MAP) program for He then headed to Syracuse to pursue a master’s degree and work as a graduate student-athletes with learning, psychological and physical disabilities, the Achieving assistant athletic trainer for the Orange sports programs. Schmidt earned his M.S. Classroom Excellence (ACE) program for at-risk student-athletes, the math and in exercise physiology from Syracuse University in 1996 and spent the next six years writing labs, programming for high achievers, and the PREGAME summer bridge there as an assistant athletic trainer. program for new student-athletes. Schmidt is an Illinois State Licensed Athletic Trainer, an American Red Cross Certified Instructor for First Aid, CPR & AED, and a National Academy of Sports A native of Lakeville, Indiana, Dr. Russell holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Medicine Performance Enhancement Specialist. He also is a member of the National the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in college student personnel and a Athletics Trainer Association and the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association. Doctor of Philosophy degree in socio-cultural studies in sport from the University of Tennessee. His dissertation involved research into the academic and athletic adjustment to college of first-year student-athletes. He is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and holds leadership positions KELSEA GARTHOFF within the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) including serving as DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE MEDIA Immediate Past Chair of the NCAA Advisory Board. Kelsea Garthoff is in her third season as director of creative media after joining the Fighting Illini staff in August 2017. She specializes in social media production STEPHON FUQUA and graphic design for recruiting. Garthoff served the previous year as marketing and sales ASSISTANT AD, ACADEMIC SERVICES director at the University of Illinois’ Willard Airport. Dr. Stephon Fuqua, who started at Illinois in January 2019, serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Prior to arriving at the U of I, Garthoff spent nearly four Academic Services and works with the Illini basketball years at Utah State University, first as new media coordinator for Aggie Athletics program. followed by lead graphic designer.

Dr. Fuqua joined the Illinois staff from Ohio State Garthoff began her career as a graduate assistant in the marketing and communication University, where he served as a Senior Athletic Academic office at her alma mater, Drury University. Counselor in the Student-Athlete Support Services Office (SASSO). In his role, he oversaw the academic progress While at Drury, Garthoff was a four-year pitcher on the softball team. She concluded her career in 2012 as the Panthers’ career leader in victories (38), ERA (2.61), of football student-athletes and facilitated personal and complete games (43) and strikeouts (237) while also throwing just the second professional development programming geared toward building their leadership and no-hitter in school history vs. Missouri S&T on April 18, 2012. decision-making skills. Garthoff earned two degrees from Drury, a bachelor’s in integrated media, Prior to joining the Buckeyes, he worked as an associate director in the office of communication and writing in 2011 and a master’s in integrated marketing in 2013. Student-Athlete Support Services at the University of Cincinnati.. During his five- year tenure, he provided support to the men’s basketball and men’s and women’s In 2019 Garthoff married Corey Ansfield, who works in the office of athletic golf teams and assisted them in getting the resources they needed to be academically development and oversees the DIA’s annual fund (I FUND). successful. For three years, Dr. Fuqua served as an academic advisor and worked closely with the NICOLE ANDERSON Student-Athlete Academic Success Center at Eastern Kentucky University to ensure student-athletes were on pace to graduate. He also designed and implemented policies OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR and procedures that encouraged and promoted student accountability and success. Nicole Anderson is in her second year as office administrator. She performs countless organizational Dr. Fuqua earned a bachelor’s degree in business and organizational communication and business duties for the office, maintains Coach from the University of Akron in 2008. There, he was also a member of the football Underwood’s schedule, and also assists in summer camp and track teams and was later selected as a 2009 undrafted free agent with the NFL’s preparations. New Orleans Saints. In 2010, Fuqua received a master’s in sport administration from Eastern Kentucky University and in 2019 earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Anderson has worked for the University of Illinois since Education from the University of Cincinnati. His dissertation involved researching 1996, spending her first 11 years with Campus Stores, school factors and legal involvement in marijuana usage among African American Mail and Receiving. male adolescents. Anderson joined the athletic department in 2007, beginning with a one-year role Dr. Fuqua is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics assisting football operations before an eight-year stint as administrative secretary for (N4A), a 2017 recipient of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) the head football coach. Rudy Keeling Postgraduate Scholarship and a 2018 graduate of the NCAA’s esteemed Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute. Prior to joining the Illini men’s basketball staff, she spent nearly two years at the Irwin Academic Center assisting the academic services staff. Anderson resides in Gifford.

2019-20 ILLINOIS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK // 21 THE COACHING STAFF DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JOSH WHITMAN

Illinois alumnus Josh Whitman was effort to develop a new DIA mission statement (Unify. Develop. Inspire. Achieve.) hired as the University’s 14th permanent and is working actively to implement that mission statement into DIA’s daily director of athletics on February 17, 2016. activities. Fiscally, he has also helped return DIA to an operating surplus for the first At the time of his hiring, Whitman, then time since 2012. 37 years old, was the youngest athletics director in the Autonomy 5. Since his The competitiveness of the Illinois programs has seen marked improvement under arrival, Whitman’s “We Will Win” mantra Whitman’s leadership. In the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, Illinois moved and message of unity, optimism, and bold from 54th in 2015-16, the year of his arrival, to 36th in 2017-18 and 43rd in action have rekindled the fire in the hearts 2018-19. During Whitman’s tenure, Illinois teams have made 28 NCAA postseason of Illini fans everywhere. appearances, highlighted by 16 teams finishing in the top 16 nationally and six finishing in the nation’s top four. In addition, three Illinois student-athletes have Whitman has formulated an aggressive captured four individual national championships (wrestler Isaiah Martinez, 2016; agenda since his hiring. Highlights have men’s gymnast Brandon Ngai, 2016; and men’s gymnast Alex Diab, 2018 and included launching the University’s 2019). In Big Ten competition, the men’s golf program has won four consecutive Big Athletics Hall of Fame, which inducted Ten crowns and men’s gymnastics captured the conference title in 2018. its third class in September 2019; constructing the new $79.2 million Henry Whitman, a former Academic All-American at Illinois, emphasizes strong performance Dale and Betty Smith Football Center, which opened prior to the 2019 season; by the Fighting Illini student-athletes in the classroom as well. In each year of his breaking ground on Demirjian Park, a new home for the Illinois soccer and track tenure, student-athletes have posted a combined GPA of above 3.12. Fifteen of the and field programs that will be fully open by 2021; and the Susan and Clint Atkins 19 teams, along with more than 60 percent of the individual student-athletes, earn Baseball Training Center, also scheduled to open in 2021. He has also undertaken an GPAs above 3.00. In the last two years, Illinois student-athletes have garnered a total ambitious fundraising effort to renovate and expand the Ubben Basketball Practice of 626 Academic All-Big Ten selections. Teams have also set records for APR scores. Facility and is studying the potential addition of Division I hockey to the Fighting Illini sport portfolio. Prior to returning to Illinois, the 41-year-old Whitman spent nearly six years as an athletics director at two universities. He came to Champaign-Urbana following Whitman has hired six new head coaches, including iconic football coach Lovie almost two years as director of athletics at Washington University in St. Louis, Smith, who led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XLI; Brad Underwood, who has a nationally recognized NCAA Division III program with 19 varsity sports and won more than 67 percent of his games in six years as a Division I head coach; and approximately 500 student-athletes. During Whitman’s tenure, the program posted women’s basketball coach Nancy Fahey, who arrived in Champaign-Urbana having seven top-five NCAA finishes, a combined GPA of 3.35, and a graduation rate of already been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Other Whitman 99 percent. head coach hires are Chris Tamas for volleyball, whose first two seasons have resulted in berths in the NCAA round of 16 and the national semifinals, respectively; Evan Before joining Washington University, Whitman served as the director of athletics Clark with women’s tennis, who has already garnered Big Ten Coach of the Year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, another of the nation’s leading Division honors and whose teams have become a fixture in NCAA postseason competition; III programs. Combined at those two institutions, Whitman’s teams earned four and Nadalie Walsh with women’s gymnastics, whose teams have finished as Big Ten national titles and 24 top-five team finishes, plus 34 conference championships. runner-up in consecutive seasons. Whitman also restructured the Illinois men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country programs, bringing Whitman has two Illinois degrees. He graduated with Bronze Tablet honors in 2001 those six programs under a single, unified coaching structure led by veteran coach while earning a bachelor’s degree in finance. In 2008, he graduated summa cum Mike Turk. laude from the Illinois College of Law before serving as a judicial law clerk for Judge Michael Kanne on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. From 2005 Whitman has been a visible presence and frequent speaker at Illini events nationwide. to 2008, he worked for DIA and former Illini athletics director in He has canvassed the country, meeting with supporters of the program from coast to various administrative capacities. coast, which has led to a spike in fundraising. In Whitman’s first three full years at the helm, DIA has generated more than $70 million in donated dollars, highlighted On the gridiron for the Fighting Illini, Whitman was a four-year starting tight end by the largest single gift in DIA history, a $20 million donation to name the Smith from 1997-2000 and two-time First Team Academic All-American. He then spent Football Center. In addition, Whitman led the effort to secure a $7 million lead gift parts of four seasons as a player in the , including stints from the Demirjian family to create the with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and . UI ATHLETICS DIRECTOR HISTORY new stadium and related facilities for 1892-94 Edward K. Hall soccer and track and field, and worked Prior to embarking on his career in athletics administration, Whitman practiced law 1894-95 Fred D. Dodge with longtime donor Susie Atkins to in Washington, D.C., with Covington & Burling LLP, a firm with a preeminent 1895-98 Henry H. Everett support Illinois Baseball by pledging $3 sports practice that represents, among other clients, the National Football League. 1898-1901 Jacob K. Shell million toward its new indoor training 1901-36 George A. Huff facility. In total, DIA has received 20 Whitman grew up in West Lafayette, Ind., and is married to Hope Whitman. They 1936-41 Wendell S. Wilson 1941-66 Douglas R. Mills gifts of $1 million or more during have two children: a daughter Tate, who turned three in September 2019, and a son, 1966-67 Leslie Bryan (interim) Whitman’s tenure, including several of Will, who turned one in July 2019. He remains a licensed attorney and is a member 1967-72 E.E. (Gene) Vance the most generous single gifts in DIA of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. In 2019, Whitman 1972 Charles E. Flynn (interim) history. In 2017 and 2018, the annual was selected to the national board of directors for the Sports Lawyers Association. 1972-79 Cecil N. Coleman fund experienced year-over-year growth 1979 (interim) in consecutive years for the first time in Whitman’s leadership has earned national attention, highlighted in early 2018 1980-88 Neale R. Stoner more than a decade. when Sports Business Journal named him to its prestigious Forty Under 40 list. In 1988 Ronald E. Guenther (interim) July 2017, Whitman was selected Central Illinois Business Magazine’s Forty Under 1988 Dr. Karol A. Kahrs (interim) Internally, Whitman reorganized the 40 Man of the Year. The Whitmans have become engaged in several Champaign- 1988-91 department’s leadership structure and Urbana community organizations, including the United Way, Courage Connection, 1991-92 Robert Todd (interim) created the Committee on Diversity Coaches vs. Cancer, and the Tom Jones Challenger League. Whitman was recently 1992-2011 Ronald E. Guenther and Inclusivity, which hosted DIA’s recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Champaign Rotary. He and Hope are also 2011-2015 Mike Thomas 2015-16 Paul Kowalczyk (interim) first Diversity Summit in the spring significant contributors to the I FUND and made a significant gift to the Smith 2016- Josh Whitman of 2018. He has led a comprehensive Football Center to honor football alumni in the facility.

22 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE COACHING STAFF DIA ADMINISTRATION / SUPPORT STAFF

Warren Hood Maria Ochoa Woods Susan Young Sara Burton Marty Kaufmann Jason Lener Deputy Director of Athletics Executive Senior Associate AD Executive Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Senior Woman Administrator Chief Financial Officer Sport Administration Business Development Sport Administration

Howard Milton Keiko Price Ryan Squire Brett Stillwell Kevin Ullestad Christopher Span Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Senior Associate AD Faculty Representative Development Sport Administration Chief Integrity Officer Capital Projects & Facilities State Farm Center Director

Tiffany Barnett White Cassie Arner Randy Ballard Kent Brown John Chipman Zach Goines Faculty Representative Associate AD Associate AD Associate AD Associate AD Associate AD Marketing and Strategic Communication Sports Medicine Media Relations Business Affairs Development

Jason Heggemeyer Nick Rogers Carrie Ummel Benjy Wilber Lenny Willis Zach Acton Associate AD Associate AD Associate AD Associate AD Associate AD Assistant AD Ticketing and Sales Information Technology Development Compliance Facilities Event Management

Brian Amentt Cory Ansfield Paige Apkarian LeeAnn Bird Dustin Boyer Alexander Burden Director Assistant AD Creative Services Associate Director Director Assistant Director Ticketing I FUND Scholarships Academic Services Premium Seating Development, Chicago

2019-20 ILLINOIS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK // 23 THE COACHING STAFF DIA ADMINISTRATION / SUPPORT STAFF

Derrick Burson Bobbi Busboom Kyle Croy Tom Divan Emily Danckers Kilee Fletcher Assistant AD Assistant AD Assistant Equipment Director of Facility Management Team Sport Dietitian Assistant Strength Coach Communication Development, Operations Manager State Farm Center

Dr. Robert Gurtler Dr. Jeremy Henrichs Barry Houser Kathy Kaler John Marquardt Jason Marry Head Team Physician Team Physician Conductor Assistant AD Associate Director Associate Director Orthopedic Physician Athletic Bands Academic Services State Farm Center Fighting Illini Productions

Erin McClafferty Maria McDevitt Kevin Mitchell Derryl Myles Derek Neal Nisar Qureshi Director Assistant Director Assistant Director Assistant AD Associate Director Assistant AD Marketing Development Development Fighting Illini Productions Athletics Communication Human Resources

Rick Raven Stephanie Record Luke Reiff Tessi Taylor Chris Tuttle Equipment Manager Cheerleading Coach General Manager Director Associate Director Director Fighting Illini Sports Properties Compliance Development, Chicago Development

2019-20 ATHLETIC BOARD

Alumni Members Faculty Members Faculty Athletics Ex-Officio Maureen Durack James Anderson Representatives Members Michael Engelhardt Neha Gothe Christopher Span Mike Bass Paul Hunt Paul Heald Tiffany Barnett White Mike DeLorenzo David Williams Barry Houser Josh Whitman Michael LeRoy Student Members Brenda Lindsey Julie Greuel Fred Wakefield Brian Walsh Lee Zerrusen Endalyn Taylor, chair Kate Joyce Director Director Director Caleb Reams Development, West Coast Summer Camps and Clinics Varsity “I” Association

24 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS THE COACHING STAFF UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

TIMOTHY L. KILLEEN ROBERT JONES PRESIDENT CHANCELLOR Timothy L. Killeen took office as the 20th president of Robert J. Jones became chancellor at the University of the University of Illinois on May 18, 2015, bringing Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on September 26, 2016. more than three decades of experience as an educator, Jones, who served as president of the University at Albany, researcher, and administrator in public higher education State University of New York (SUNY) since 2013, is and in leadership positions with national scientific an experienced and accomplished scientist and research research agencies. university leader.

In the first months of his presidency, Killeen led the Jones’ tenure at one of the SUNY system’s leading development of an ambitious new Strategic Framework research universities followed a 34-year career at the to guide the U of I System and its universities in University of Minnesota, a Big Ten land-grant institution, Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign. The where he began as a plant physiologist in the department roadmap sets high-aspiration goals to make the U of of agronomy and plant genetics and rose through a series I a model for higher education in the 21st century, of academic administrative appointments, serving as and build on its rich legacy of service to students, senior vice president for academic administration at the University of Minnesota innovation, and economic growth. System from 2004 to 2013.

Enrollment has since grown to a record 83,000-plus students across the System and A Georgia native, Jones, born in 1951, earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from its faculty have been chosen to lead important research projects from healthcare to Fort Valley State College, a master’s degree in crop physiology from the University cybersecurity, adding to nearly $1 billion in annual research funding. Killeen also of Georgia, and a doctorate in crop physiology from the University of Missouri, has launched new innovation initiatives to promote economic prosperity in Illinois Columbia. He began his academic career as a faculty member at Minnesota and and beyond, including a council that brings together CEOs of top companies in the became an internationally respected authority on plant physiology. He is a fellow of state to explore new partnerships. the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America.

Under his leadership, the U of I System also has proposed a groundbreaking new Throughout his career, Dr. Jones has worked to make education available to promising partnership with the state of Illinois to support its efforts to transform the lives young scholars around the world, speaking and teaching in Africa, Asia and Europe. of students and drive economic growth. The proposal would restore predictable From 1984-1994, he worked with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the Archbishop’s funding in exchange for tangible contributions that serve students and the South African Education Program as an academic and scientific consultant. state, such as holding down tuition and maintaining high student retention and graduation rates. In addition to serving as chancellor of the Urbana university, Jones is a vice president of the University of Illinois System, which also has universities in Chicago and Before joining the U of I System, Killeen served as vice chancellor for research and Springfield. Jones also holds a tenured faculty position in the Department of Crop president of the Research Foundation at the State University of New York (SUNY), Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). one of the nation’s largest higher education systems. In his dual role, he was at the Jones is the first African-American scholar appointed as Urbana chancellor since the center of SUNY’s strategy for research growth. office was created in 1967.

Earlier, he served as assistant director for the geosciences at the National Science During his tenure at Albany, Jones launched that university’s largest and most strategic Foundation, as the Lyall Research Professor at the University of Colorado, as academic expansion in 50 years, including establishment of the nation’s first integrated director and senior scientist for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity. He spent more than 20 years as a faculty member and researcher at the University of created the university’s first College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, nurtured Michigan, where he also served as associate vice president for research. a deep academic affiliation with historic Albany Law School, established Albany’s first vice presidency for health sciences and biomedical initiatives, and started the He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007, and is a member conversation about reinvigorating the arts and humanities. and past president of the American Geophysical Union; a fellow of the American Meteorological Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Throughout his distinguished career at the University of Minnesota System and on Science; and a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. He has authored the Twin Cities campus, Jones held several progressively responsible positions at the more than 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals, along with more than 300 Big Ten institution. other publications and papers. While senior vice president for academic administration, Jones had administrative and A leading researcher in geophysics and space sciences, Killeen received his bachelor’s budgetary responsibilities for public engagement initiatives central to the academic degree and Ph.D. at University College London, where he earned his doctoral mission of the University including Minnesota’s Extension Service and the Minnesota degree in atomic and molecular physics at the age of 23. Agricultural Experiment Stations. He played a leadership role in establishing a new four-year campus in Rochester and established the University’s first urban research and Killeen’s wife, Roberta M. Johnson, holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in outreach/engagement center designed to help address challenges in an economically geophysics and space physics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She depressed urban community. The center was recently named after Dr. Jones. has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers and other publications in the areas of isotope geochemistry and upper atmospheric research, as well as on educational Dr. Jones is an accomplished vocalist, and was a member of the Grammy award- programs. winning Sounds of Blackness, a Minnesota-based choral ensemble.

She began her career as a research physicist at SRI International in Menlo Park, Jones is married to Dr. Lynn Hassan Jones, a diagnostic radiologist. Together they Calif., before moving on to continue her research at the University of Michigan have five children and two grandchildren. Space Physics Research Laboratory. While there, she initiated the Windows to the Universe project, which she continued to direct until 2016. She also served as director of education and outreach at the University Corporation for Atmospheric BOARD OF TRUSTEES Research, as a scientist at the High Altitude Observatory, and as executive director of the National Earth Science Teachers Association. Most recently, she served for Governor J.B. Pritzker Stuart C. King, Champaign three years as a clinical professor at the State University of New York at Albany Ramón Cepeda, Darien Edward L. McMillan, Greenville in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences. She is a fellow Kareem Dale, Chicago Jill B. Smart, Downers Grove of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, and received the American Geophysical Union’s Athelstan Spilhaus Award in 2016 for her work to bring the Donald J. Edwards (chair), Chicago Trayshawn M.W. Mitchell, UIUC student excitement and beauty of the geosciences to the public. Ricardo Estrada, Chicago Susan E. Panek, UIC student Patricia Brown Holmes, Chicago Rosie Dawoud, UIS student The Killeens have three children. Naomi D. Jakobsson, Urbana

2019-20 ILLINOIS BASKETBALL RECORD BOOK // 25 THE COACHING STAFF RICHMOND ENDOWMENT

RICHMONDS ENDOW BASKETBALL COACH’S POSITION

The legacy of Jack Richmond abounds at his It also made him further appreciate the alma mater, the University of Illinois. University of Illinois.

The Champaign resident, retired businessman, His years at the U of I were greatly and U of I graduate and benefactor died April 17, satisfying. He was a member of Phi 2011. But his love of his university lives. One of Gamma Delta social fraternity and was the more recent gifts from the lifelong Fighting active in sports. As a freshman gymnast Illini fan and his wife, Marge, endowed the salary who earned his numerals with the of the men’s basketball head coach position. U of I team, Jack broke his sternum This $2 million gift significantly increased following a dismount from the flying their previous seven-figure commitment to the rings. No longer able to compete as a Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. gymnast, he focused his attention on weight training. At that point, weights Their generosity extends across the U-C campus. weren’t popular and were nonexistent In 2004, Mr. Richmond made a six-figure gift at the U of I. creating the Jack C. Richmond Scholarships for members of the men’s varsity gymnastics team. Still, he convinced Seward Staley, In 2003, the Richmonds made a $1.5 million director of the U of I School of Physical Above: Jack and Marge gift resulted in Richmond Family Gallery, the Education, to purchase a set of Olympic Richmond with Mr. Richmond’s first floor reception area in the Alice Campbell weights. A small but dedicated weight mother, Mildred. Alumni Center. The Richmonds also provided a lifting team was formed, and the sport $2 million gift to the College of Communications spread to first to the intramural level Right: Jack Richmond, 1940. in 1998 that created the Richmond Journalism and then was adopted by the physical Teaching Studio, a broadcast facility for education department as a P.E. course. journalism students in Campbell Hall for Public He had dabbled in the market since 1955, but Telecommunication. The Richmond Studio and Today, the benefits of weight training by the early 1970s he had the time and resources the Richmond Family Gallery honor Jack and are widely recognized and top-notch equipment to become more active in the stock market. Marge as well as the memory of Jack’s parents, is available across campus. He enjoyed success in this realm as well, and Arthur Dean and Mildred Hummel Richmond. Those muscles paid off for Jack, who was a was more than willing to share. A donor since “The Richmond Family Endowed Men’s Head railroad worker, wrecking crew member, meat 1965, his generosity to the U of I increased Basketball Coach” is another example of the truck driver, corn detassler, lifeguard, bouncer significantly over the years. Jack and his mother generations-long benevolence of the Richmond and even a model for the U of I art school to pay became members of the Presidents Council in family. Jack’s ancestors helped settle Champaign for his education. He graduated in 1943 with a 1976 and Marge became a member in 1990. County, and his parents contributed to the U bachelor’s degree in agriculture. Always interested in athletics at the U of I, Jack of I for the construction of Memorial Stadium. and Mildred Richmond had made a $1 million Seven-year-old Jack was on hand for the He followed up his four years of ROTC at the commitment to the Athletic Department in dedication of Memorial Stadium on Oct. 18, U of I with a tour in the Army. Then he put 1981. He became an honorary member of the I 1924, a day forever highlighted by Red Grange’s his degree to work when he joined the U.S. Man’s Association and had been a member and five touchdowns during an Illinois romp over Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation former president of the Illini Quarterback Club top-ranked Michigan. Jack Richmond was Service as a county farm planner, opening since 1955. He also joined the Rebounders Club hooked on Fighting Illini sports for the rest of district offices in Macon County and Clark shortly after former head coach Lou Henson his life. County. founded it and had been a life member of the But before he could attend the U of I, he learned Later, Mr. Richmond was recruited by a former Fighting Illini Scholarship Fund. a few lessons in life. The Richmonds were member of the U of I gymnastics team as a The Richmond name will be forever associated devastated by the Great Depression, losing their salesman for Marchant Calculators. His capacity with athletics at the U of I through the significant holdings of farmland and other assets. to sell was exceptional, and he soon had clients endowment of the men’s basketball head coach The dramatic change in lifestyle had a profound from area grain elevator operators to the U position. For lifelong Fighting Illini fan Jack effect on young Jack. of I. He remained with Marchant, which was acquired by Smith Corona and became known Richmond, that always seemed most appropriate. as SCM Corp., until 1972. Then he was ready to embark on a new course — the stock market.

26 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,790 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS