I met Illini Head Basketball Coach Brad Underwood Last Night

It’s always a great day to be an Illini fan. But last night, it something even more.

As a current senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I’ve been attending Illini basketball games for the past for years. It’s become a part of who I am and my time at the university.

On Monday night, I was fortunate enough to meet Illini head basketball coach Brad Underwood alongside members of Orange Krush, the basketball student section. It was a night I will never forget.

The Night Was Unbelievable

Each week, Coach Underwood participated in a weekly radio broadcast interview throughout the season a local pizza restaurant in Champaign, Illinois.

Members of Orange Krush and I decided to attend. Boy, am I glad we did.

As we munched on deep dish pizza, we listened to Coach Underwood discuss much about the team and season. He talked about future opponants, the current state of the team and even what he hopes to happen in the future.

But the best part of the night was meeting him up close and personal. I had done so a few times in the past, but never like this.

He took a group photo with all of us, talked with us, and even signed some autographs. He was the most genuine and friendly person you would ever want to meet.

He’s not so much a big celebrity, but I guess a local one. He is within the world of college sports.

We all see him on TV all of the time but to meet him personally was on another level. He made us all feel welcome and comfortable.

He wasn’t a snobby celebrity or rude in any way. He welcomed all of us fans in with open arms.

And I couldn’t be more grateful for this.

He’s Helped Me Find My Love of Sports and Basketball

I didn’t care much for sports growing up. I liked professional wrestling a lot, but I tolerated baseball, basketball and football.

As I grew older, my passions change. I’ve realized that sports aren’t boring at all. They’re actually quite exciting if you can get into it and become passionate about them.

But meeting an athlete or coach is on a whole other level.

When I thought watching Illini basketball was great, meeting Coach Underwood was even better. I felt starstruck in a way, but I shouldn’t have.

At the end of the day, he’s a regular person like you and me. He genuinely cared about all of us fans. He wanted to me each and every one of us.

I’m not sure about anyone else, but I fell deeper in love with Illini basketball and everything about them. Just by meeting Coach, I know I’m cheering on the right team each week.

He helped this small town kid find a passion for sports once again. I couldn’t be more thankful and proud of this change in my life.

I plan to embrace it as long as I can.

Who knows what the future of Illini basketball will hold, but I know I will be here for it all. They’re playing pretty well right now. We shall see how the rest of the season plays out.

Closing Thoughts

Staying passionate about something is truly one of the best things in life.

Before sports, I was passionate about many things, but after meeting Coach Underwood, I have fallen deeper in love with sports, especially Illini basketball.

I will probably never been a stats freak or yell at a ref for calling a wrong play. That’s okay.

I will still watch sports as much as I can. As life changes, so do passions. Mine for sports has grown even stronger.

Much of this is thanks to Coach Underwood and the rest of the Illini basketball team.