Illinois Assistant Anderson steps away from program “indefinitely” – HoopDirt

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has announced that assistant Tim Anderson is taking a personal leave of absence and will be stepping away from the program indefinitely.

“Coach Anderson has impacted our program in countless ways, both on and off the court,” Underwood said in a statement. “Whether recruiting, building and maintaining relationships, or player development, TA has been a key part of the success we’ve experienced. We appreciate his commitment and many contributions to Illinois Basketball.”

Anderson joined the Illinois staff in 2021 after a four year run as an assistant at DePaul. He has also led Ground Zero Training in Chicago and served as the program director for MeanStreets AAU.

“It has been a dream come true to work at the University of Illinois and represent the Fighting Illini,” Anderson said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together over these last three years. I thank Coach Underwood for the opportunity to coach here, and I especially want to give credit to all our players for their effort, trust, and sacrifice in producing a championship culture. Following a great deal of reflection this offseason, I’ve decided to take some time away from coaching in order to focus on myself and my family. I want to thank everyone who is reaching out for their support, and hope all will respect the personal nature of this decision.”

Underwood also announced that he has promoted Director of Recruiting and Scouting Kwa Jones to fill Anderson’s spot. Jones had most recently served as a graduate manager for the Illini before being elevated to his recruiting and scouting position. He also served as a manager under Kelvin Sampson at Houston (2019 graduate).