Illinois’ 2025‑26 Standout Leaders Across Sports

Brad Underwood – Men’s Basketball

Illinois men’s basketball has reversed a long drought under Brad Underwood, who entered his ninth season at the helm. After seven straight years outside the NCAA tournament picture—six without the 2020 bubble—the Illini reached the Final Four this spring. Underwood recorded his seventh consecutive campaign with at least 20 wins, though a national championship still eludes the program. The 2025‑26 season is another step toward that ultimate goal.

Salwa Kyprianou – Women’s Track & Field

Kyprianou’s women’s track and field squad added two more top‑eight finishes this year, giving the Illini four national placements in the last two seasons. The March indoor championship third‑place run was the second‑best postseason result for any women’s team in school history. Her strategy of recruiting multi‑event athletes, jumpers and throwers is paying dividends for both men’s and women’s squads. The recent success signals continued growth for Illinois in a competitive athletic landscape.

Breck Bielema – Football

In just five seasons, Breck Bielema has built a resume that no Illinois head coach can ignore. His clubs have amassed 19 wins across two years, highlighted by a 9‑4 mark and a Music City Bowl victory in 2024. Three winning seasons in four years have not occurred since John Mackovic’s era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bielema turned the Illini into a competitive football program where his predecessors struggled to keep the team afloat.

Shannon Green – Women’s Basketball

Shannon Green’s resurgence is measured by triple digits: a third straight 22‑win campaign and a third NCAA tournament appearance in four years. The Big Ten remains a tough hill to climb, but Green has positioned Illinois as a legitimate contender with noticeable upside for 2026‑27. Her roster construction and competitive depth are already reshaping expectations in the conference.

Barrett Dancer – Baseball (or Softball)

Barrett Dancer is in the early third decade of his Illinois tenure, nearing a quarter‑century behind the plate. The Illini made the NCAA tournament for the 19th time in Dancer’s 21 seasons this spring, including a Sweet 16 run not seen since 2021. Illinois posted 24 total wins, matching the highest total since 2018. A talented freshman class suggests Dancer’s long‑term success will continue.

Stacey Hultin – Gymnastics (or Soccer)

Hultin returned to Champaign for the 2025 season, replacing legendary coach Janet Rayfield after her retirement. The Illini finished 13‑6‑2, the most wins for the program since 2011, and earned their first NCAA tournament berth since 2013. Hultin brought the aggressive recruiting and scheduling philosophy she honed at Division II Grand Valley State. Much of the 2025 success was built on a foundation inherited largely from Rayfield.

Jeff Small – … (Sport)

Jeff Small holds the record for most N‑G Illinois Coach of the Year awards, tallying six honors since 2003. Expectations for his program remain sky‑high, yet a recent season left the Illini just short: a runner‑up finish at the Big Ten championship and an early exit at the NCAA regional in Athens, GA. Despite the stumble, Illinois captured three tournament titles, added six other top‑five finishes, and closed the year ranked 17th nationally.

Darin Hunter – Wrestling

Illinois wrestling experienced a leadership transition when Mike Poeta was placed on administrative leave in December. Darin Hunter took over in late December and became the full‑time coach in February, guiding the Illini to a 12‑5 dual‑match record and a 5‑3 Big Ten dual‑meet mark. Hunter’s squad posted four ranked wins and finished sixth at the Big Ten championships, behind future All‑Americans Kannon Webster and Lucas Byrd.

Ricardo Ribeiro – Gymnastics

The regular season was rocky for Ribeiro’s Illini, who posted a 2‑7‑1 overall record and went 0‑4 in Big Ten dual meets. However, the team peaked at postseason, placing third at the Big Ten championships and fifth at the NCAA championships. The highlight was Brandon Dang’s double victory on the pommel horse, earning both Big Ten and NCAA titles at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The late‑season surge underscores the program’s depth and competitive potential.

Jenny Slone – Golf

Jenny Slone capped her 20th season as Illinois golf coach with a strong finish across the spring bracket. The Illini posted a top‑five finish at the Big Ten championships in Glendale, Calif., marking the fourth such appearance in five years. A seventh‑place run at the NCAA regional in Stanford, Calif., completed the postseason. Prior to the tournament run, Illinois captured the Boilermaker Spring Classic with three golfers—Anna Ritter, Alexis Myers and Brielle Mapanao—standing in the top ten. The closing stretch highlighted Slone’s impact and the program’s upward trajectory.