UIC's basketball program was established in 1946, and the Chicago-based school competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Flames have been a competitive mid-major in the Chicago area, with several conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Flames name was adopted in 1982, referencing the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, symbolizing the city's resilience and rebirth from the ashes.
Earning the program's first NCAA Tournament berth in 1998 as an at-large selection out of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, where the ninth-seeded Flames fell to UNC Charlotte in the first round.
UIC's campus is in the heart of Chicago's Near West Side, making it one of the most urban Division I basketball programs in the country — students can take the L train to games.
The UIC Flames compete in the MVC and hold an all-time record of 655–718 (.477 winning percentage) across 44 recorded seasons dating back to 1981-82.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 19-15 | 12-8 (MVC) | Rob Ehsan | |
| 2024-25 | 17-14 | 10-10 (MVC) | Rob Ehsan | |
| 2023-24 | 12-21 | 4-16 (MVC) | Luke Yaklich | |
| 2022-23 | 12-20 | 4-16 (MVC) | Luke Yaklich | |
| 2021-22 | 14-16 | 9-10 (Horizon) | Luke Yaklich | |
| 2020-21 | 9-13 | 6-10 (Horizon) | Luke Yaklich | |
| 2019-20 | 18-17 | 10-8 (Horizon) | Steve McClain | |
| 2018-19 | 16-16 | 10-8 (Horizon) | Steve McClain | |
| 2017-18 | 20-16 | 12-6 (Horizon) | Steve McClain | |
| 2016-17 | 17-19 | 7-11 (Horizon) | Steve McClain | |
| 2015-16 | 5-25 | 3-15 (Horizon) | Steve McClain | |
| 2014-15 | 10-24 | 4-12 (Horizon) | Howard Moore | |
| 2013-14 | 6-25 | 1-15 (Horizon) | Howard Moore | |
| 2012-13 | 18-16 | 7-9 (Horizon) | Howard Moore | |
| 2011-12 | 8-22 | 3-15 (Horizon) | Howard Moore | |
| 2010-11 | 7-24 | 2-16 (Horizon) | Howard Moore | |
| 2009-10 | 8-22 | 3-15 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2008-09 | 16-15 | 7-11 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2007-08 | 18-15 | 9-9 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2006-07 | 14-18 | 7-9 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2005-06 | 16-15 | 8-8 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2004-05 | 15-14 | 8-8 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2003-04 | 24-8 | 12-4 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2002-03 | 21-9 | 12-4 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2001-02 | 20-14 | 8-8 (Horizon) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 2000-01 | 11-17 | 5-9 (MW Coll) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 1999-00 | 11-20 | 5-9 (MW Coll) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 1998-99 | 7-21 | 2-12 (MW Coll) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 1997-98 | 22-6 | 12-2 (MW Coll) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 1996-97 | 15-14 | 11-5 (MW Coll) | Jimmy Collins | |
| 1994-95 | 18-9 | 11-4 (MW Coll) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1993-94 | 20-9 | 14-4 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1992-93 | 17-15 | 9-7 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1991-92 | 16-14 | 10-6 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1990-91 | 15-15 | 5-11 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1989-90 | 16-12 | 6-6 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1988-89 | 13-17 | 3-9 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1987-88 | 8-20 | 4-10 (Mid-Cont) | Bob Hallberg | |
| 1986-87 | 17-15 | 9-5 (Mid-Cont) | Willie Little | |
| 1985-86 | 13-16 | 7-7 (Mid-Cont) | Willie Little | |
| 1984-85 | 14-14 | 7-7 (Mid-Cont) | Willie Little | |
| 1983-84 | 22-7 | 12-2 (Mid-Cont) | Willie Little | |
| 1982-83 | 16-12 | 7-4 (Mid-Cont) | Tom Meyer | |
| 1981-82 | 14-13 | Ind | Tom Meyer |
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| 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 |
|---|