TABC: Stephen Gentry - Transition Offense

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Stephen Gentry is in his first season back as an assistant coach at Gonzaga after joining the Fighting Illini staff in August 2019. 

Previously he was instrumental in schematic changes implemented during the 2020 season that saw the Illini improve 73 spots in defensive efficiency and rise 45 spots in offensive efficiency, as Illinois ended the year ranked in the top 40 in both categories for the first time since 2011. 

Gentry reunited with Brad Underwood after spending two years at Gonzaga as director of operations for coach Mark Few. The Bulldogs had a stellar 65-9 record over Gentry's two seasons, winning back-to-back West Coast Conference titles and twice advancing to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga went 32-5 in 2018, winning both the West Coast regular season and tournament championship, and made an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. The 2019 Bulldogs, meanwhile, were 33-4 overall and a perfect 16-0 en route to the WCC regular season title. Gonzaga won the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, held the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll for a total of five weeks, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight.

Gentry was alongside Underwood for four-plus seasons prior to his tenure at Gonzaga. He was at Stephen F. Austin for three years, Oklahoma State for one, and was part of Underwood's original staff at Illinois, as assistant to the head coach, during the spring of 2017 before departing for Spokane. Gentry's four seasons with Underwood saw their teams go a combined 109-27, including three conference championships and four NCAA Tournaments. 

Gentry has been on staff for five conference championship teams in the last six seasons, and part of teams that have participated in 10 of the last 12 NCAA Tournaments – including each of the last six years – recording a total of 11 Tournament wins. He also has contributed to three different teams that have had the number one offensive efficiency ranking in the country: Gonzaga in 2019, Oklahoma State in 2017, and Gonzaga as a player in 2006.