Bruce Weber
The Illinois basketball program has enjoyed unprecedented success both in the Big Ten and nationally under head coach Bruce Weber.
Illinois is the 11th-winningest college basketball program in the nation during Weber's tenure, totaling 152 victories over the last six years. With 152 wins in just six seasons, Weber already ranks third on the Illinois career coaching wins list.
Weber has won 72.7 percent of his games while in charge of the Fighting Illini (152-57). He owns the highest winning percentage of any coach in Big Ten history who has coached at least six seasons in the conference. His 152 wins, meanwhile, are the most in Big Ten history by a coach after his first six years.
He has won a total of 255 games during his 11-year coaching tenure, the ninth-most victories by a coach in NCAA history through his first 11 seasons, and owns a 69.7 percent winning percentage overall (255-111).
Weber's 2008-09 Illini squad was one of the most improved teams in the country. With 10 more regular season victories than it achieved the year before, Illinois posted the third-biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I and the second-biggest turnaround among BCS programs on the year. The Illini recorded 24 wins, ranking as the 10th-winningest season in school history. Illinois earned a No. 5 seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, making its fifth tournament appearance under Weber.
Illinois finished as the 2009 Big Ten runner-up after being picked between fifth and seventh in the preseason polls. The second-place performance marked a seven-place improvement in the conference standings from the previous season, tying the biggest turnaround in school history. Illinois improved six games on the previous year's win total in Big Ten play, which was the second-biggest turnaround in school history.
Illinois now has two Big Ten Championships (2004, 2005) and two runner-up finishes (2006, 2009) during Weber's six seasons in Champaign-Urbana.
Weber's 2008-09 UI squad was best known for its team-first style of play. Four players averaged between 11.5 and 10.2 points. Illinois led the nation in assist rate, recording assists on an impressive 69.3 percent of its baskets on the season. The Illini also led the Big Ten and ranked seventh nationally in assists, averaging 17.5 apg.
In addition to his duties at Illinois, Weber is actively involved with USA Basketball for the 2009-2012 quadrennium. Weber serves on the Men's Junior National Committee, which selects coaches and athletes for USA Basketball college-aged competitions, including the World University Games, FIBA U19 World Championships, FIBA Americas U18 Championships and Pan American Games.