Former Illinois basketball assistant coach Chester Frazier posts parting words

Players and coaches have come and gone for the Illinois basketball program, but Chester Frazier is one of the special ones.

Frazier started his college career off with the Illini. A Baltimore native, Frazier picked Illinois as his landing spot out of high school. He spent four seasons with the Orange and Blue, none of which were mind-blowing numbers-wise. But that is what makes him so special. He didn’t have to put up huge numbers to make a huge impact.

Better known for his defensive prowess, Frazier averaged 4.9 points and 3.9 assists during his career with Illinois. He was the bridge from the national title run in 2005 to the next generation of Illinois players. Three NCAA tournament appearances were of note, and Frazier’s chest bump of Eric Gordon will never be forgotten.

In May 2021, Frazier was brought back into the fold as an assistant coach. He coached the program for three successful seasons, getting to the NCAA tournament all three seasons, winning the Big Ten regular season, winning the Big Ten Tournament, and advancing to the Elite 8.

After the season, Frazier decided to depart the Illinois basketball program. He is now with West Virginia, but the former Illini point guard and assistant coach did have some parting words for the Orange and Blue.

“Onward and upward!!! No need for a graphic – Illini nation – staff – players – MUCH LOVE AND SUCCESS – we did great things!! Thank you!!! Time to hang more banners cut more nets and wear more rings!!! Leave a place better than you found it.. work starts now WVU!! Always GO ILLINI”

That was Frazier’s farewell post on social media. He is now getting acclimated to his new life with the Mountaineers.

It is a weird feeling seeing Illinois basketball assistant coach Chester Frazier leave the program

I know it is all a part of the college landscape. Players and coaches leave all of the time, and it is just the name of the game. But I am wondering why some people are getting upset with the transfer portal but not upset when a coach leaves for another job.

There will always be love in the heart for Fraizer. He was a fan favorite as a player, and he did a good job as a coach. But the way he left the program was kind of weird.

Illinois fans found out about Frazier departing not from him but from a post from a West Virginia sports site. On top of that, Frazier is likely to take two Illinois players with him in Sencire Harris and Amani Hansberry, both players that I would have loved to have seen on the roster in 2024-25.

So, while it is the name of the game today, it is going to take a minute for me to get over Frazier leaving the way he left. I wish the coach nothing but the best, and maybe if Illinois plays West Virginia down the road, assistant coach Tim Anderson can give him a little chest bump when they shake hands.