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Illinois Basketball: Five Illini Head Coach Options for 2017

By Rees Woodcock

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Jan 14, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; A general view of the court as the Kansas Jayhawks players warm up before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; A general view of the court as the Kansas Jayhawks players warm up before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Norm Roberts

Norm Roberts is the current Kansas Jayhawks assistant coach under former Illinois head coach Bill Self.  He is one of my top candidates who I want to fill the Illini head coaching position.

Roberts is a seasoned veteran in the college coaching game.  Since 1995 he has been in some type of coaching capacity at a big-time level.

As far as head coach experience goes, Roberts has only had a job with St. Johns from 2004 through 2010.

Roberts took over a Red Storm program that the year before went 6-21.  He helped build St. John’s into a team who could compete again until being let go for Steve Lavin.  The following season the team went to the NCAA Tournament.

I like Roberts’s pedigree because he has been in the coaching game for quite some time.  He even spent time as an Illinois assistant as well.

From 2000-03 Roberts was an assistant under Bill Self.  These years were some of the best in Illinois history.  The team went to the Elite 8 and Sweet 16 in two of the three seasons.

Getting a candidate like Roberts who has the pedigree, who can recruit well, and who has once coached the Illini would be huge for this program.  I would love for him to be the future head coach.

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