Illinois hires Oklahoma State's Brad Underwood, who's in for a nice raise

Underwood is leaving the Big 12 school after one season, replacing John Groce at Illinois

Brad Underwood has reached an agreement to leave Oklahoma State and take the coaching job at Illinois, a source told CBS Sports.

The school subsequently confirmed the development.

Welcome Coach Brad Underwood! #WeWillWin #ILLINI pic.twitter.com/9yqLI0Ce1x

— Josh Whitman (@IlliniAD) March 18, 2017

Underwood just finished his first season at Oklahoma State, where he led the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament after starting 0-6 in the Big 12. His contract was worth about $1 million a year at Oklahoma State. Illinois recognized that, a source told CBS Sports, and offered to multiply Underwood’s salary. And that, combined with Underwood’s not-so-great relationship with OSU athletic director Mike Holder, was enough to get the Kansas State graduate to move to the Big Ten.

Illinois fired John Groce earlier this month.

Underwood is 109-26 in four seasons as a head coach. Before leading Oklahoma State to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, he guided Stephen F. Austin to a 53-1 record in the Southland Conference and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

“We are saddened and disappointed in Brad’s decision to leave Oklahoma State after one year,” Holder said. “We are trying to digest this news. ... We wish Brad and his family well. In the meantime, we will consider the situation and move forward.”