
Illinois Will Play Back-to-Back Friday Night November Games in 2026
Illinois has been selected to play back-to-back Friday night […]

Illinois Will Play Back-to-Back Friday Night November Games in 2026
Illinois has been selected to play back-to-back Friday night […]

Five Possible Candidates For Illini Softball Head Coach Vacancy
Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys.com insider/analyst and co-host of IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, immediately put together five possible candidates for this open Illini head coach position.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 7, 2026
(Cover photo SIU Athletics)
For only the third time in program history, the softball program at the University of Illinois is in need of a head coach.
The university announced the move to terminate Tyra Perry immediately following her 1-on-1 meeting with Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman on Monday evening. The Illini finished the 2026 season at 15-39 overall with a last-place finish in a 17-team Big Ten Conference after a 3-20 league mark. Perry suffered three consecutive disappointing seasons to conclude her time with the Illini where the program went 58-98 overall and 16-50 in Big Ten Conference play.
“Tyra is a wonderful person who served admirably in the role of head coach,” Whitman stated in a university release announcing Perry’s dismissal. “We experienced many high points during the early years of her tenure, including multiple NCAA postseason appearances. However, we have been unable to build upon that early success in recent years, leading me to conclude that a change in leadership is needed. We will always be grateful to Tyra for her hard work on behalf of our program and our student-athletes, and we wish her nothing but the best.”
Perry was hired as the Illini’s second-ever softball head coach in June 2015 by then-athletics director Mike Thomas after back-to-back seasons winning the Mid-American Conference regular season title while leading the Ball State softball program. Through 26 seasons as a NCAA Division I softball head coach, Perry has totaled over 700 career victories as the head coach at Illinois, Ball State, Western Kentucky and Birmingham Southern.
Perry led the Illini program to its first back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances since 2010 in her first two seasons in Champaign-Urbana, and she helped the Illini to 36 wins or more for three-straight seasons, from 2016-18, for the first time in program history. She guided the Illini to another NCAA Regional in 2019 after a 33-25 season.

Illini Women’s Golf Relying on Recent West Coast Preparation Routine for NCAAs
Illinois women’s golf hope they can replicate their most recent performance in California at the Big Ten Championships as they’re sent back out west in NCAA Stanford Regional.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 7, 2026
Renee Slone would’ve never asked for her team to make three separate trips to California in her team’s postseason run.
After being selected to the the reality for the Illinois women’s golf team postseason run has created a buzz word every player wants to hear - routine.
After spending a week in California for the Big Ten Championships at the end of last month, the Illinois women’s golf team will be getting on a plane to travel to the Golden State once again. And if, for the second time in program history, they finish in the top five of the NCAA Stanford Regional, Illinois will make at least one more trip to California for the NCAA Championships.
“It was a surprise to see us (during the selection show) to be sent out to Stanford but this group is so well traveled and experienced already so we’re prepared to handle any type of field, conditions and variable in our way,” Illini senior Brielle Mapanao said.

Illini Men’s Golf Selected As No. 2 Seed in NCAA Athens (Ga.) Regional
Illinois men’s golf will play in a 13-team NCAA […]

Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Expect Big Things From Illinois’ Youthful Backcourt
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 5th, 2026
(Cover photo courtesy Anoke Deitg-Blanchard)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Expectations are once again soaring for the Illinois men’s basketball program, as the Illini enter the upcoming season positioned among the nation’s elite. According to CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Illinois is ranked No. 2 in the country in the preseason, trailing only Florida, reinforcing the belief that Brad Underwood’s program remains firmly in the national spotlight.
The 2025-26 season featured several standout players, headlined by freshman Keaton Wagler, who emerged as an All-American and is set to have his jersey hung in the rafters at State Farm Center next year.
As Illinois turns the page to the 2026-27 season, the spotlight shifts once again to a talented incoming freshman class.

Tom Michael Returning to Illinois As AD Josh Whitman’s Second in Command
Tom Michael is leaving his athletics director position at […]

Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Quinton Kitt Confirms Prep School Plans, Remains Locked in with Illinois
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst
May 5, 2026
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – One of the key members of the 2027 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball recruiting class is taking a different route before arriving on campus. Quinton Kitt confirmed to IlliniGuys on Monday night that he plans to attend prep school next year as part of his long-term development.
Kitt, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound power forward from East Peoria, Illinois, committed to Illinois last November. The three-star wing is off to a strong start on the AAU circuit, continuing to build momentum against high-level competition.

Illini Softball Coach Tyra Perry Fired After 11 Seasons
Illinois softball head coach Tyra Perry has been terminated […]

IlliniGuys May the 4th Be With You Update
By IlliniGuys Staff
May 4, 2026
As the semester winds to a close and we turn the calendar from the most successful end to an Illini basketball season in more than two decades, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered the latest update earlier today on our premium message boards:
---Illinois is basically on Stoj watch right now. Obviously, he has a fantastic NIL package ready to go with Illinois, but

Dramatic Illini Comeback Effort Ends With Third Straight Runner-Up Finish in Big Ten Championship
For the second straight season, Illinois men’s golf finishes […]

Illini Fall to Third in Big Ten Championships; Max Herendeen Sits Four Shots Off Individual Title Lead
Illinois men’s golf suffer a 17-shot swing in a 24-hour period to go from a two-shot lead to a 15-shot deficit from round one to two of 2026 Big Ten Championshios.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 2, 2026
Illinois will need a historic comeback to bring home the 2026 Big Ten Championship trophy from Oregon on Sunday.

Illini’s Freddie Turnell Rides Wave of Confidence into Big Ten Championship Co-Lead
Illinois second-year player Freddie Turnell is tied for the lead after the first round of the 2026 Big Ten Championships following a win at the Hoosier Collegiate in Indiana last week.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
May 2, 2025
If Friday was going to be Freddie Turnell’s most challenging 18 holes in his current collegiate golf career, he can certainly consider that test passed with flying colors.

Illini Men’s Golf Leading Big Ten Championships By Two After Day 1
Illinois finished the first day of the 2026 Big […]

Bret Bielema Anticipating Illini Will Have Small 2027 High School Recruiting Class
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema speculated Friday that the Illini’s 2027 high school recruiting class would be a smaller number around “12 to 18” signees.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Anlayst
May 1, 2026
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN — The upcoming Illinois 2027 football recruiting class might be the smallest in numbers of the six-year tenure of Bret Bielema era.
In a Zoom media conference with local reporters on Friday afternoon, Bielema indicated that a variety of factors could result in Illinois coaching staff anticipating needing just a small amount of roster spots.
“I would bet we end up anywhere between 12 to 18 (signees), which is still kind of big for some schools but a small class for us,” Bielema said.
Illinois currently only has only one verbal pledge in the 2027 recruiting class - three-star cornerback Justin Johnson from Evanston (Ill.) Township High School - while certain assistant coaches and staff members are currently away from the Smith Center making their off-campus recruiting school visits.

Illinois Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) April 30, 2026 […]