Illinois Women’s Basketball Head Coach Nancy Fahey gets 2-year extension

While most sports news has gone quiet in Champaign, the University of Illinois and athletic director Josh Whitman announced a two-year contract extension for women’s basketball coach Nancy Fahey.

Fahey, a five time Division III national champion coach, has struggled in her three seasons at the helm. The Illini are just 30-61 in Fahey’s initial three campaigns.

Her deal was set to expire following the 2022-2023 season, but she is now set to be in Champaign until after the 2024-2025 season — earning a pay bump in the process.

While the Illini have underachieved in Fahey’s time as coach, we have seen through the football and basketball program how long it takes to build up a successful operation. Whitman has seen that, and is committed to devote that time to Fahey.

“Building Illinois women’s basketball into a consistent winner will require time, patience, and stability, and we are prepared to provide Coach Fahey, her staff, and her student-athletes with our full support while that process takes shape,” Whitman said in a statement released by fightingillini.com

Giving a coach that time of stability aids in recruiting, as players know when they are committing they are committing to the same coach for the entirety of their careers.

The Illini hope this is the correct step in building Illinois woman’s basketball to national prominence.