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Brad Underwood’s new coaching staff has been completed. According to multiple reports, the Fighting Illini have hired former UIC and Bradley coach Ron ‘Chin’ Coleman as the third assistant, joining Orlando Antigua and Jamall Walker on the bench. The news was first reported by WGN Radio's Sam Panayotovich.
UIC asst Ron "Chin" Coleman will complete Brad Underwood's #Illini staff. Very strong recruiter, Chgo pedigree, former @TheMacIrvinFire HC.
— Sam Panayotovich (@spshoot) April 12, 2017
Coleman, a Chicago native, was named to the UIC staff in 2015 after spending three years at Bradley as an assistant head coach. Coleman also served as an assistant under Tim Miles at Colorado State during the 2011-12 season, and he followed along to Nebraska to act as the Cornhuskers’ Director of Player Development.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Coleman was head coach of the Mac Irvin Fire from 2005-11. The AAU powerhouse has produced a myriad of top talent from the city of Chicago in recent years, including Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, and Cliff Alexander.
Coleman played professionally for seven seasons with the Houston Rockets and the CBA’s Grand Rapids Hoops. He also competed overseas in Finland and Latvia’s top league.
Additionally, Illini Inquirer’s Jeremy Werner has reported that the Fighting Illini have also hired Oklahoma State’s Stephen Gentry as an assistant to the head coach.
Also, Stephen Gentry has joined the #illini staff as assistant to the head coach. Similar role at OK State. Was asst at Stephen F Austin. https://t.co/w1eJ3ANj8l
— Jeremy Werner (@JWernerScout) April 12, 2017
Gentry held a similar role with the Cowboys, and he was one of Underwood’s assistants at Stephen F. Austin. In this new position with Illinois, Gentry will not be able to recruit or coach on the floor during practice.