Sunday, September 20, 2026
Join Resource Bank as we continue the celebration of our 125th Anniversary by welcoming University of Illinois Head Basketball Coach Brad Underwood to DeKalb! Coach Underwood, who led the Fighting Illini to the 2026 Final Four, will deliver a keynote address on building successful teams, developing strong leadership, and the important role character plays in long-term success. Following his remarks, guests will have the opportunity to take part in a moderated interactive question-and-answer session with Coach Underwood.
Tickets are $20 or $10 for students.
DeKalb High School Auditorium
501 W. Dresser Road
DeKalb, IL 60115
All ticket proceeds will be donated to Adventure Works of DeKalb in support of their mission of transforming lives through adventure therapy and experiential learning!
Brad Underwood has reinvigorated Illinois Basketball, bringing the Fighting Illini back to the national stage and building one of the nation's premier programs during his tenure in Champaign.
Underwood is the 18th head coach in Illinois history, hired in March 2017 as the Richmond Family Endowed Men's Head Basketball Coach. During his 13 seasons as a Division I head coach, he has won nearly 69 percent of his games while recording 11 seasons with at least 20 victories. He has led his teams to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, with an 11th opportunity lost when the 2020 postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.
Underwood further cemented his place among the greatest coaches in Illinois history during the 2025-26 season by leading the Fighting Illini to the program's first NCAA Final Four appearance since 2005. Illinois finished 28-9 overall, placed second in the Big Ten with a 15-5 conference record, captured the NCAA South Regional Championship, and finished No. 5 in the final AP Poll after advancing to the national semifinals. The Illini defeated Penn, VCU, Houston, and Iowa during their tournament run before falling to eventual national champion UConn, 71-62, in the Final Four.
Illinois also claimed the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Championship, giving Underwood two conference tournament titles in four seasons and making him the first coach in program history to win multiple Big Ten Tournament championships. His teams have also captured the 2022 Big Ten regular-season championship, earned two Elite Eight appearances in three seasons (2024 and 2026), and established Illinois as one of the Big Ten's most consistent winners. Underwood's Illini have produced five AP Top-25 finishes in the last seven seasons, including three Top-10 finishes and two Top-5 finishes.
