Editor’s note: This is an updated version of the article originally posted Friday. This is the same version of the article that appears in Monday’s paper.
After nine seasons, Bruce Weber is no longer the Illinois men’s basketball head coach.
Just one day after Thursday’s loss to Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, athletic director Mike Thomas called a press conference to announce that he has decided to go in a different direction.
“As you can imagine, it’s difficult to make this decision when you’re talking about the quality of person that Bruce Weber is,” Thomas said. “Bruce is everything you should want in a coach, as it relates to how he represents the university, his student athletes, the program.”
Thomas met with Weber on Friday morning, allowing him to meet with the assistant coaches and student athletes afterward. Thomas met with them as well and named Jerrance Howard the interim head coach. Howard is unlikely to lead Illinois on the court, however, as the Illini did not receive a bid to the NIT, the only postseason tournament other than the NCAAs to which Thomas said Illinois would accept a bid.
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There is still $3.9 million left on Weber’s contract over three years. Thomas said he plans to move quickly in the national search and will likely use a search firm, in large part to ease the burden of conducting two searches at once — women’s basketball head coach Jolette Law was fired last week.
Thomas did not limit the search to those with head coaching experience nor Chicago ties, but is considering those factors.
“The thing that trumps all is someone that has a track record of success and a clean record,” Thomas said. “And integrity is part of their DNA.”
Thomas said he looked at Weber’s total resume, not just the past few months, to make his decision.
Weber’s Illinois career began with success. In his first season, 2003-04, Illinois won the Big Ten title and went to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.
In just his second season, the Illini advanced to the Final Four, the first time since the 1988-89 Flying Illini season, and later the national championship game. Illinois went 37-2 that season, led by future NBA All-Star Deron Williams.
Since that season, Illinois has not won a Big Ten title, has won two NCAA tournament games and missed two NCAA tournaments. Illinois had an above-.500 record in eight of his nine seasons.
The Illini finished last season at 17-15 with a 6-12 conference record after starting 15-3, with multiple weeks with a top-25 ranking early on. Since defeating Ohio State on Jan. 5, Illinois went 2-14.
After losing to Purdue at home Feb. 15, Weber was somber and blunt in his postgame press conference. He reflected on his career and the choices he has made at Illinois. Since then, speculation began building as to whether Weber would be fired.
This marked the longest tenure for Weber as head coach, with nine years at Illinois. He finished with a 210-101 overall record and 89-66 in the Big Ten.
