Illinois assistant Chester Frazier leaving program for West Virginia

Just a few weeks removed from the beginning of its offseason, Illinois has lost over 80% of its scoring production and is now down an associate head coach.

After a few days of speculation, 247Sports’ Illini Inquirer first reported on Tuesday that assistant coach Chester Frazier would be leaving the program to take on the same position at West Virginia. The Mountaineers are in the midst of a rebuild and recently hired Drake head coach Darian DeVries.

Frazier confirmed the move Tuesday night on X.

It appears for the time being, Frazier — who turned 38 on Sunday — celebrated his last birthday in Orange and Blue.

“No need for a graphic - Illini nation - staff - players - MUCH LOVE AND SUCCESS - we did great things!! Thank you!!!,” Frazier said in an X post. “Time to hang more banners cut more nets and wear more rings!!! Leave a place better than you found it.. work starts now WVU!! Always GO ILLINI”

With the message, he posted a clip of Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless on ‘Undisputed’, including Sharpe saying that he’s given everything he’s had in his last episode on the show.

He’s also since changed his username to reflect his new employers, opting for “@WVUCoachFrazier.”

TCR // David Pollak

Before arriving at his alma mater in 2021, Frazier had stops at Kansas State and Virginia Tech as an assistant and as an associate head coach, respectively.

At Kansas State, he worked under his former head coach at Illinois, Bruce Weber. He helped the Wildcats to five NCAA Tournament appearances and two Big 12 regular season conference championships during his time in Manhattan, Kansas.

At West Virginia, Frazier will be an associate head coach once more. The role brings him closer to potentially becoming a head coach, which appears to be his career path.

The former Illinois point guard has been an asset on the recruiting trail for Brad Underwood, picking up commitments in recent years from Jayden Epps, Sencire Harris and Amani Hansberry, among others.

Harris and Hansberry entered the transfer portal on Monday and Tuesday respectively, with the latter being hours before Frazier’s departure was announced.

Frazier, a two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection with Illinois, will make his return to coaching in the Big 12 this fall.

Greg Nelson // Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Country Roads might be taking Frazier home. The Baltimore native will now be a short car ride (3.5 hours) away from home when he enters his new office in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are just under a year removed from the resignation of Hall of Fame head coach Bob Huggins, and just weeks removed from interim head coach Josh Eilert finishing 9-23, the program’s lowest win total since finishing 8-20 in 2002.

West Virginia wasted no time in the offseason, hiring DeVries just 12 days after its season was over. DeVries and Frazier will work to rebuild a WVU roster that currently has seven scholarship spots open.

Frazier is the second assistant to be hired in the DeVries era, joining Nick Norton, who followed him from Drake.

Meanwhile, in Champaign, Brad Underwood will look to replace a former Illini on his staff. Frazier’s departure is the first time an assistant has left Illinois since Orlando Antigua, Ron Coleman and Stephen Gentry left the program for jobs at Kentucky and Gonzaga a few years back.