Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Friday the hiring of Tim Anderson as assistant coach. The Chicago native brings 15 years of coaching and training experience to the Fighting Illini staff.
“Tim is the complete package. He has expertise in every area to benefit our players and our program,” Underwood said. “You’re talking about someone who is an industry leader in player development, as evidenced by many of the world’s top players selecting Ground Zero Training as the place to perfect their game. He is an excellent teacher, and he brings great recruiting ties not just in Chicago, but throughout the state of Illinois and nationally. Tim has done it at literally every level, from high school and AAU, to junior college and division II, and low major to high major in division I. He is a grinder who has paid his dues because he loves the game of basketball and helping people achieve their dreams. He is without question an ‘Every Day Guy’ who is the perfect addition to our staff.”
“It’s exciting to become part of Illinois Basketball, to join a program that is truly special with its history and its fan base, and to join Coach Underwood’s winning culture, a coach who has won everywhere he’s been throughout his career,” Anderson said. “I grew up watching the Fighting Illini on channel 26, and understand the tradition that started with Coach Henson and has carried through to this day. For the all-time great players that wore the jersey and left a legacy with the success built here over the years, that’s what we’re charged with continuing. It’s a special opportunity and we’re ready to get to work to make it happen.”
Anderson spent the past four years as an assistant coach at DePaul. During his time in Lincoln Park the Blue Demons had many notable achievements, including the most combined wins for the program in 15 years over a two-year stretch (35 from 2019 to 2020), DePaul’s best non-conference record during its 30-year history of conference membership (12-1 in 2019-20), and Big East Tournament wins in back-to-back seasons for the only time in school history (2020 and 2021).
Prior to his tenure at DePaul, Anderson led Ground Zero Training in Chicago, preparing college players for the NBA Draft while also working out numerous NBA and overseas professional players. He also served as program director for MeanStreets, one of the most successful AAU programs in the country on the EYBL circuit.
In between his time in Chicago, Anderson spent two years as an assistant coach at Texas-Pan American (now UT Rio Grande Valley).
Prior to that, he was head coach for three years at Crane High School, leading the Cougars to a combined 63-24 record and highlighted by an IHSA Super Sectionals appearance in 2011. It was during this time that he founded Ground Zero Training. His first coaching opportunity in Chicago was as an assistant at Malcolm X College.
Anderson starred at Crane and went on to play in college at Oklahoma Panhandle State, a Div. II school in Goodwell, Oklahoma. He was named Male Athlete of the Year during his senior season. Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2006. He began his career in law enforcement in Goodwell and was an assistant at Oklahoma Panhandle before moving back home to Chicago in 2007.
Anderson’s start date with the Illini is July 26.
