The Great Jerrance Howard

Jerrance,

Rumor has it some big programs have been trying to steal you away from the Illini but so far you have resisted those efforts.

I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that.

As a fellow Peorian and Illini graduate, I figure you and I are basically brothers. And it is as a brother that I tell you this: one day you will be a head coach at a major college basketball program. You have the basketball knowledge to get it done. Learning from the likes of Bill Self and Bruce Weber during your time as a player and assistant coach, and just being from Peoria, Illinois - which is, as you know, one of the premier basketball towns in the world - has primed you to one day coach at a BCS school. It will happen.

But let's not get hasty.

There's no reason for you to leave now when Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson, Tyler Griffey and Joseph Bertrand are just months away from arriving on campus. And when Jereme Richmond, Crandall Head and Meyers Leonard are just a few more months away from signing letters of intent. And when there's still more recruiting to do with the likes of Tracy Abrams, Mike Shaw, Sam Thompson and Wayne Blackshear (get r dun!). No doubt there's a lot to do, and I'm sure Coach Weber will be the first to admit that he needs your help to lock these great future Illini into scholarships so they can acheive their dreams of acquiring an excellent education and competing for a National Championship.

Not to mention, the Illini need you to continue to mentor the likes of Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale. Chester's not going to be able to do it alone.

Honestly, Jerrance, I can't think of a finer institution than Illinois to ply the trade of college basketball coach.

I know you feel the same way.

Best,
Bevormo