On this episode of the Life of Fitz podcast, host Tim Fitzgerald calls his friend, Brad Underwood, who is the head basketball coach at the University of Illinois. Underwood grew up in McPherson, Kansas, just south of Fitz's hometown of Salina, and both graduated high school in 1982. They have known each for much of their lives, but 20 years after playing at Kansas State, Underwood returned in 2006 as an assistant coach. It set in motion a quick climb in the coaching profession, leading to his third season in Champaign, Illinois, abruptly ending when college sports were shut down due to the pandemic.

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Tim Fitzgerald is a sports journalist who writes, does TV, radio and is a long-time podcaster. He has served as publisher of GoPowercat.com, a website that focuses on Kansas State sports, for more than 20 years. Fitz also has stage 4 prostate cancer, so his doctors have advised him to stay home and lay low. Welcome to his life and the Life of Fitz podcast.

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