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An Illini Academic All-American, Rob Judson returned to his alma mater when he joined the UI staff in 1996. In four seasons at Illinois, Judson has helped continue the great tradition of Fighting Illini basketball that he was a part of as a player in the late 1970s.
A four-year letterwinner at Zion-Benton High School, Judson played for his father, Phil, who was one-half of the famed Judson twins who led tiny Hebron High to the 1952 Illinois High School state championship. Twenty-three years later, Rob was his team’s MVP, an all-state selection and a top recruit by the University of Illinois and Lou Henson.
While playing for the Fighting Illini from 1976-80, Judson starred not only on the court but in the classroom. Illinois went 70-52 in his four years, a mark which included a third-place finish in the 1980 NIT. As an Illini, he set the Illinois career free-throw percentage record (.875), which still stands. Judson also earned four consecutive George Huff Academic awards, Academic All-Big Ten laurels (1979 & 1980) and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors (1979).
Judson’s coaching career began at Palatine High School in 1980, then moved to Wauconda High School (1981-83) and Glenbrook South High School (1983-89) in suburban Chicago before joining Jim Molinari at Northern Illinois University. He followed Molinari to Bradley in 1991 (five years to the day), where he was the Bradley head coach’s chief recruiter. A former Illinois Basketball Coaches Association District Coach-of-the-Year, Judson is a member of that organization’s Hall of Fame.
Judson was the fourth member of his family to letter at Illinois. Besides his father, Phil, who lettered in 1955 and 1956, his uncles Paul and Howard left their mark on Fighting Illini basketball. Paul lettered from 1954-56, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. He was Illinois’ most valuable player in 1955. Howard lettered in 1944 and 1945 before enjoying a seven-year major league baseball career as a pitcher with the Chicago White Sox (1948-52) and Cincinnati Reds (1953-54).
Rob, 41, has degrees from both Illinois (B.A., liberal arts, 1980) and Roosevelt University (M.A., administration and supervision). He is married to the former Kim McCarty of Tuscola. The couple has three children: daughters Karin and Kristin, and son Matthew.
The Judson File
| Graduated | Illinois, 1980 |
| 1980 | Assistant Coach, Palatine (Ill.) High School |
| 1981-83 | Head Coach, Wauconda (Ill.) High School |
| 1984-89 | Head Coach, Glenbrook (Ill.) South High School |
| 1990-91 | Assistant Coach, Northern Illinois |
| 1992-96 | Assistant Coach, Bradley University |
| 1997- | Assistant Coach, University of Illinois |
