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NORMAL, Il. – Longtime senior assistant coach Ryan Paden has been named the 20th head coach in the legendary history of the Illinois men’s basketball program.
Fans are invited to greet Coach Pedon in Illinois on Monday, March 7, with an open event at the Redbird Arena starting at 11 a.m.
“I am extremely excited to join the Redbird family. “I would like to thank President Kinsey, Kyle Brennan and Mark Muhlhauser for this opportunity,” said Paden. “My family and I are committed to finding the right shape all the time. Simply put, Illinois checks each of our boxes. Great people, strong academics, a highly competitive environment, a proud alumni base and a campus / community that will allow us to recruit at a high level. The tradition of men’s basketball in the state of Illinois is well documented and we will accept this at every level. My family and I are so grateful for this opportunity, and we look forward to building something very special in Illinois. ”
Padden has spent the last five seasons in Ohio since joining the team in the summer of 2017. During his time with Buckeyes, OSU has a record of 106-53 with a place in the NCAA tournament in each of its seasons in Columbus, with two travels to the second round of the NCAA.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Ryan Paden as the leader of our men’s basketball program in Illinois,” said Kyle Brennan, ISU’s director of athletics. “We believe he is the right man to lead the men in our program and help them rise back to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference and the NCAA Tournament. Ryan has worked in reputable programs and has been mentored by some great coaches. Gaining ties with Illinois and the Midwest will be a great asset for him to move forward, and we are excited about his vision for the future of this program. “
In 2020, Pedon joined Coaches 4 Change (C4C), an organization founded by college basketball coaches who are dedicated to helping their student athletes, their campus, and their communities. C4C’s mission is to provide a platform that engages, educates, empowers, and develops the college student-athlete on social injustice, systemic racism, and voting power in the endless pursuit of equality.
He made the transition to Columbus with head coach Chris Holtman of Butler, where he helped the Bulldogs record a 47-20 record in two seasons with two places in the NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, he spent two seasons in Illinois as assistant head coach to former Illinois head coach John Gross. In his two seasons at Champaign, Ilini twice advanced to NIT. He also spent time as an assistant coach in Toledo (2010-13) and Miami (Ohio) (2005-10), was director of basketball operations at Kent State from 2002-05, and was a graduate assistant in Miami (Ohio). ) from 2000-2002
Pedon played college basketball at Worcester College, where he was a three-year letter winner and helped Fighting Scots in three NCAA tournaments and three North Coast Athletics Conference (NCAC) championships in the regular season. In 2000, he won the prestigious Wooster Bear Award.
He received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Wooster in 2000 and a master’s degree in sports organization from Miami, Ohio, in 2002. He and his wife, Stephanie, have a son, Maddox.
“Ryan’s intelligence, enthusiasm and integrity make him a man we believe our student-athletes will gravitate to and embrace our fans,” Brennan continued. “We look forward to officially welcoming Ryan, his wife Stephanie and son Maddox to the Bloomington-Normal community on Monday.”
Redbirds fans who are interested in renewing or securing 2022-23 season tickets can make a $ 50 deposit, CLICK HERE.
Ryan Paden’s coaching schedule
2017-2022 – Assistant Coach at Ohio State University
2015-2017 – Assistant Coach at Butler University
2013-2015 – Assistant Head Coach at the University of Illinois.
2010-2013 – Assistant Coach at the University of Toledo
2005-2010 – Assistant Coach at the University of Miami (Ohio)
2002-2005 – Director of Basketball Operations at Kent State University
2000-2002 – Graduate Assistant Professor, University of Miami, Ohio
What are they saying…
Chris Holtman, Ohio head coach
“The state of Illinois is hiring a great basketball coach and a very talented leader. Ryan has an amazing work ethic, a great basketball feel and an IQ and a realistic vision of what the culture of his program wants to be. He has extensive recruitment contacts in the Midwest, and he knows exactly what player he wants in his program. If I were a fan of Illinois, I would be very excited about the future of the program. I’m excited about Illinois and the Pedon family. We love Ryan, Stephanie and Maddox and we will miss them, but we can’t be more excited about this opportunity for them as a family. “
Gene Smith, director of athletics in Ohio
“I’m excited about Ryan. He is an exceptional person as well as an exceptional coach. I want to thank him for all his great work in Ohio, and I know I will miss him. He will do a great job in Illinois. Kyle Brennan is an outstanding athletic director and his choice of Ryan is great. “
Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations, Boston Celtics
“I’ve known Ryan for over 20 years and I’ve always been impressed by his knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for the game. I think he will do a great job in Illinois and will be a person that children love to play for. He has a great spirit and a lot of experience working for several exceptional coaches. I look forward to seeing him succeed. “
Keita Bates-Diop, San Antonio Spurs, Ohio Alum and Normal Hometown
“Coach Pedon helped me the most during my last year at OSU. We spent many hours, not only on the court, but also watching movies. Even off the court with school, he made sure not to procrastinate this area. He taught me that my commitment on the court is just as important as my commitment off the court. He showed me the connection between the two, and I believe that helped me in my NBA career. Getting him to coach in my hometown too is amazing. Congratulations! “
Jay-Sean Tate, Houston Rockets, Alumni, Ohio
“Congratulations to Coach Pedo!” The state of Illinois is lucky to have a coach with a great attacking mind who puts his players in situations where they thrive but also thrive. My time with him was my first year as a guard and he really helped me make that transition into the player I am today. I’m excited to see the culture he’s building at Illinois State University. “
Eric (ISU football graduate) and Michelle (Rucker) Liddell (ISU volleyball graduate)
“Coach Pedon was a phenomenal leader and had a positive impact on a number of players during his many years of coaching. From the time he started tirelessly recruiting our son almost four years ago, we knew he had the qualities of a coach who would be a great role model for our son – real, hardworking, respected, passionate, dedicated and dedicated. He is not only a fantastic coach, but also motivating, encouraging and focused on instilling good habits outside of the sport, which will be continued throughout life. Coach Pedon has completely instilled the trust of our whole family and we owe him forever for treating our son EJ as one of his own. Coach Pedon is a real gem and Illinois, our alma mater, will be the perfect place for him to shine! Congratulations! “
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