Illinois Basketball: Illini lose a legend with the passing of Lou Henson

Not only did the Illinois basketball world lose a legend today but the college basketball world did as well.

In heartbreaking news on Wednesday morning, it was announced that former head coach and Illini legend Lou Henson had passed away. This loss sends sadness through the college basketball landscape because of the impact Lou had on the Illinois program and the game of basketball.

Lou started his college coaching career at Hardin-Simmons. Four successful seasons with the Cowboys helped him land the job with New Mexico State where he could start cementing his legendary coaching legacy.

From the start, Lou had the Aggies rolling. He made the NCAA tournament in his first five seasons with the program which included one Final Four appearance. The final season with New Mexico State saw the program win 20 games and, again, receive a berth in the postseason. Lou’s nine tremendous years with the Aggies led him to the job at Illinois.

It wasn’t an easy road building the Fighting Illini into a winner, though. Lou took over a team that had a combined 13-36 record the two years prior. It was a bold decision to leave a New Mexico State job that had him on the winning track for an Illinois job that seemed on a path to nowhere.

The first three years were a struggle for Lou and the Illini. The best season in the first three campaigns was a 14-13 record in year one. That all changed during the 1978-79 season. Illinois won 19 games and at one time were 15-0 and ranked No. 4 in the nation after a win against No. 1 Michigan State, who was led by Magic Johnson.

Lou’s turnaround of the Illinois basketball program was just starting, though. He would go on to make eight out of 10 NCAA tournaments in the 1980s and advanced to the Final Four in 1989. This run for the Illini was one that many fans still reminisce about today.

The 1990s weren’t as good for Lou, but the Illini were still a competitive program. The team ended up making three-straight NCAA tournaments under the guidance of Lou in the 1990s.

The 1995-96 campaign was the final one for Lou at Illinois. He would retire after the season. But Sweet Lou wasn’t finished with his coaching career. Just a year after retiring from the Illinois job, Lou came out of retirement and took over his old stomping grounds at New Mexico State.

Lou would spend eight more years in the coaching game helping the Aggies to the NCAA tournament again. He would eventually hang up his whistle after the 2004-05 campaign.

Throughout the past few years, the health of Lou had become a concern. He would make a few appearances at Illinois games, though. Him showing up showed the college basketball world how much of a fighter he was and how much he loved the Illini.

It makes me even sadder that I never had a chance to watch Lou coach the Illini. I was six years old when he departed the program for the final time. He made such an impact on the program and the life of so many people within the program and outside with the fanbase.

Lou will always be remembered as a legend regardless if you had a chance to watch him or not. I am glad Illinois was able to honor him right with the naming of the floor before he passed away. He might be gone from Illini Nation physically, but his legend will live on with all of us throughout time. RIP Coach.