Illinois State's basketball program dates to 1899 in Normal, Illinois. The Redbirds compete in the Missouri Valley Conference and have been a consistent MVC contender. Doug Collins and NBA referee Gene Steratore are among the program's notable alumni.
The Redbirds nickname references the cardinal, also known as the redbird, which is the state bird of Illinois and a common sight on the campus in central Illinois.
Doug Collins' legendary career in the early 1970s, where he became an All-American before being selected first overall in the 1973 NBA Draft.
Doug Collins, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft who famously hit clutch free throws in the controversial 1972 Olympic gold medal game against the Soviet Union, played his college ball at Illinois State.
The Illinois State Redbirds compete in the MVC and hold an all-time record of 1028–736 (.583 winning percentage) across 67 recorded seasons dating back to 1898-99.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 20-12 | 12-8 (MVC) | Ryan Pedon | |
| 2024-25 | 22-14 | 10-10 (MVC) | Ryan Pedon | |
| 2023-24 | 15-17 | 9-11 (MVC) | Ryan Pedon | |
| 2022-23 | 11-21 | 6-14 (MVC) | Ryan Pedon | |
| 2021-22 | 13-20 | 5-13 (MVC) | Brian Jones,Dan Muller | |
| 2020-21 | 7-18 | 4-14 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2019-20 | 10-21 | 5-13 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2018-19 | 17-16 | 9-9 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2017-18 | 18-15 | 10-8 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2016-17 | 28-7 | 17-1 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2015-16 | 18-14 | 12-6 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2014-15 | 22-13 | 11-7 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2013-14 | 18-16 | 9-9 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2012-13 | 18-15 | 8-10 (MVC) | Dan Muller | |
| 2011-12 | 21-14 | 9-9 (MVC) | Tim Jankovich | |
| 2010-11 | 12-19 | 4-14 (MVC) | Tim Jankovich | |
| 2009-10 | 22-11 | 11-7 (MVC) | Tim Jankovich | |
| 2008-09 | 24-10 | 11-7 (MVC) | Tim Jankovich | |
| 2007-08 | 25-10 | 13-5 (MVC) | Tim Jankovich | |
| 2006-07 | 15-16 | 6-12 (MVC) | Porter Moser | |
| 2005-06 | 9-19 | 4-14 (MVC) | Porter Moser | |
| 2004-05 | 17-13 | 8-10 (MVC) | Porter Moser | |
| 2003-04 | 10-19 | 4-14 (MVC) | Porter Moser | |
| 2002-03 | 8-21 | 5-13 (MVC) | Tom Richardson | |
| 2001-02 | 17-14 | 12-6 (MVC) | Tom Richardson | |
| 2000-01 | 21-9 | 12-6 (MVC) | Tom Richardson | |
| 1999-00 | 10-20 | 5-13 (MVC) | Tom Richardson | |
| 1998-99 | 16-15 | 7-11 (MVC) | Kevin Stallings | |
| 1997-98 | 25-6 | 16-2 (MVC) | Kevin Stallings | AP #24 |
| 1996-97 | 24-6 | 14-4 (MVC) | Kevin Stallings | |
| 1995-96 | 22-12 | 13-5 (MVC) | Kevin Stallings | |
| 1994-95 | 20-13 | 13-5 (MVC) | Kevin Stallings | |
| 1993-94 | 16-11 | 12-6 (MVC) | Kevin Stallings | |
| 1992-93 | 19-10 | 13-5 (MVC) | Bob Bender | |
| 1991-92 | 18-11 | 14-4 (MVC) | Bob Bender | |
| 1990-91 | 5-23 | 4-12 (MVC) | Bob Bender | |
| 1989-90 | 18-13 | 9-5 (MVC) | Bob Bender | |
| 1988-89 | 13-17 | 6-8 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1987-88 | 18-13 | 9-5 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1986-87 | 19-13 | 7-7 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1985-86 | 15-14 | 9-7 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1984-85 | 22-8 | 11-5 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1983-84 | 23-8 | 13-3 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1982-83 | 24-7 | 13-5 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | AP #16 |
| 1981-82 | 17-12 | 9-7 (MVC) | Bob Donewald | |
| 1980-81 | 16-11 | Ind | Bob Donewald | |
| 1979-80 | 20-9 | Ind | Bob Donewald | |
| 1978-79 | 20-10 | Ind | Bob Donewald | |
| 1977-78 | 24-4 | Ind | Gene Smithson | AP #13 |
| 1976-77 | 22-7 | Ind | Gene Smithson | |
| 1975-76 | 20-7 | Ind | Gene Smithson | |
| 1974-75 | 16-10 | Ind | Will Robinson | |
| 1973-74 | 17-9 | Ind | Will Robinson | |
| 1972-73 | 13-12 | Ind | Will Robinson | |
| 1971-72 | 16-10 | Ind | Will Robinson | |
| 1909-10 | 8-5 | Ind | George Binnewies | |
| 1908-09 | 9-0 | Ind | George Binnewies | |
| 1907-08 | 5-1 | Ind | William Bawden | |
| 1906-07 | 5-3 | Ind | William Bawden | |
| 1905-06 | 6-2 | Ind | John Stewart | |
| 1904-05 | 4-4 | Ind | John Stewart | |
| 1903-04 | 7-1 | Ind | John Stewart | |
| 1902-03 | 3-3 | Ind | John Stewart | |
| 1901-02 | 3-1 | Ind | B.C. Edwards | |
| 1900-01 | 4-1 | Ind | B.C. Edwards | |
| 1899-00 | 5-0 | Ind | B.C. Edwards | |
| 1898-99 | 2-0 | Ind | B.C. Edwards |
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All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home
| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|