CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green will be granted a six-year contract extension, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The new agreement will keep Green on a six-year contract through at least the 2029-30 season. The contract also provides Green the opportunity to earn up to four additional one-year extensions if certain performance thresholds are met.
Illinois’ Athletic Director, Josh Whitman, says, “Shauna Green has invigorated Fighting Illini Women’s Basketball and positioned us for sustained success. Her ability to unify the locker room and create a winning culture has been evident throughout her career — qualities that have been on full display since her commitment to the University of Illinois.”
Green is the first coach in Illinois women’s basketball history to lead the Illini to winning seasons in their first two years at Illinois. She also secured six postseason wins (Big Ten Tournament included), more than any previous coach in their first two seasons as head coach.
Green was honored to have the faith of Whitman – and the coaches and team – to want her to stay at the helm for the foreseeable future. “I want to thank Josh for his unwavering support for me and this program,” Green said. “His vision and commitment to women’s basketball was the reason I came to Illinois and continues to be the reason I want to stay here. With Josh and Sara Burton by my side, our program has made great strides in our first two years. I am beyond grateful to serve as the head women’s basketball coach at a world-class institution like Illinois and work alongside so many talented, dedicated people. I am excited to lead this program for years to come.”
Under Illinois has a 41-25 record, including 19-17 in Big Ten play. In two years under Green, the Illinois women’s basketball team has registered 41 wins, and the first-ever postseason championship in program history.
With five players returning from the 2021-22 Illinois squad that posted a 7-20 record, Green delivered the largest turnaround in program history and one of the top all-time in Big Ten history. In league play, Illinois tallied 10 more wins than the 2021-22 season, (1-13), the best turnaround in program history, which tied for the best all-time in the Big Ten.