Coach Yaklich enters his fourth season with UIC in 2023-24.
No stranger to the state of Illinois and the Chicagoland area, Luke Yaklich (YOCK-litch) was named head men’s basketball coach for the UIC Flames by Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Michael Lipitz on March 26, 2020.
The 43-year-old Yaklich brings 21 years of coaching experience to Chicago and he has helped lead three collegiate programs – Texas, Michigan and Illinois State – to national postseason success.
During his third year in Chicago, Yaklich helped lead the Flames through their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference, including their first-ever MVC win over his alma mater Illinois State on Dec. 28, 2022 by a final score of 55-51. UIC entered its first-ever Arch Madness as an 11-seed, and lost a hard-fought first round game to sixth-seeded Missouri State to end the 2022-23 campaign.
In his second season with the Flames in 2021-22, Yaklich mentored freshman Jace Carter to the League’s All-Newcomer Team, the first UIC representative on the list five years. Additionally, Yaklich has coached two Flames to Player of the Week honors and one to Third Team All-Conference accolades.
Most recently the Associate Head Coach for
Shaka Smart at the University of Texas, Yaklich helped the Longhorns to a third place Big XII finish and presumptive NCAA Tournament berth in 2019-20 (prior to this year’s tournament being canceled). Considered one of the top defensive minds in the game, Yaklich shaped a defense that ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA in scoring defense by allowing only 63.3 points per game.
Prior to his season in Austin, Yaklich served as an assistant coach for
John Beilein at the University of Michigan. He helped lead the Wolverines to a pair of 30-win seasons, two Sweet 16 appearances, and the 2018 National Championship Game.
Michigan won over 80 percent of its games for a total of 63 victories in Yaklich’s two campaigns. The Wolverines ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (63.3 ppg) in his first season on the bench (2017-18) and advanced all the way to the NCAA Championship game against Villanova. It was the first time a Michigan team led the Big Ten in scoring defense since 1963-64. It also ranked third nationally that year in Defensive Efficiency by the KenPom ratings (90.5).
During Yaklich’s second season in Ann Arbor, Michigan led the Big Ten once again and ranked second in the NCAA in scoring defense (57.7 ppg) and second in KenPom’s Defensive Efficiency (86.2). The team posted 30 wins, earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before bowing out against Texas Tech, the eventual national runner-up.
Yaklich began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Illinois State, on the staff of head coach
Dan Muller. From 2013-17, he helped the Redbirds win 86 games and earn three postseason bids (2 NIT; 1 CBI). Yaklich was elevated to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2016-17 campaign, and that year ISU posted a 28-7 overall mark, including a 17-1 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds set single-season program records for overall wins (28), regular-season victories (25) and conference wins (17). ISU concluded that season ranked fifth in the NCAA in field-goal percentage defense (37.9 percent) and seventh in scoring defense (61.3 ppg).
A teacher in the truest sense, Yaklich ascended to the collegiate ranks after serving as head coach of highly successful Illinois high school programs for 14 years, where he primarily taught U.S. history. He was head boys' basketball coach at Joliet West High School (Joliet, Ill.) for six seasons, while also leading the Joliet Pride and Illinois Wolves AAU teams.
During his final season at Joliet West (2012-13), Yaklich led the Tigers to 19 wins and an IHSA Class 4A Lockport Regional title. He also guided the 2009-10 team to a 24-8 record and the Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional championship. He earned 2010 District 9 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Coach of the Year honors.
Yaklich also coached at his high school alma mater, LaSalle-Peru High School, from 2003-07 (boys) and 1999-2000 (girls). In between, he was the head boys basketball coach at Sterling High School in Sterling, Ill., from 2000-03. Yaklich’s teams won 214 games in his 14 seasons as head coach.
A native of LaSalle, Ill., Yaklich is a 1994 graduate of La Salle-Peru Township High School, where he played basketball for the Cavaliers. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1998, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with endorsements for American and world history, sociology, political science and geography.
The UIC head coach also earned two master’s degrees from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. He received his Master of Education in 2004 and followed in 2009 with a Master of Education Administration. He also became a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) for social studies in 2012.
Yaklich and his wife Amy, have three children, Olivia, Griffin and Taylor.
The Yaklich Family
What They're Saying About Luke Yaklich:
Michael Lipitz, Director of Athletics, UIC:
“Luke has been an integral part of championship programs at every stop in his career. He’s a skilled tactician and teacher of the game, is highly regarded for his ability to develop players to their full potential, and prioritizes the academic success of his students.”
Shaka Smart, Head Coach, University of Texas:
“I’m extremely excited for Luke and his family about this terrific opportunity at UIC. We’re grateful for his strong contributions to our program this past year and look forward to watching his success this next season and beyond.”
John Beilein, Former Head Coach, University of Michigan:
"Luke Yaklich is going to be a terrific head coach at UIC. His passion to learn the game is incredible and no one is going to be more prepared. He really understands the game on both sides of the ball. He is a relentless recruiter who also values character and attitude in his evaluations. He has been preparing himself for this opportunity. I will be rooting for UIC and Luke Yaklich next season and beyond."
Dan Muller, Head Coach, Illinois State University:
"Luke Yaklich is a teacher who loves the game of basketball. I’ve had a lot of tremendous assistants, and he ranks up there with the best of them. Luke really connects with his players and is fully committed to helping each player grow. He is an unbelievable person, a great family man, and a lifelong learner. Luke is one of my closest friends and I could not be happier for him."
Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat; 2018 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, University of Michigan:
"I had the privilege of playing for Coach Yaklich during my time at the University of Michigan. He has a passion and work ethic that is second to none. In addition to that, he prioritizes relationships and takes the necessary steps to connect with his players. Simply put, he brings the best out of everybody around him because of his character and competitive spirit. I have zero doubt in my mind that he will excel as a head coach."
Charles Matthews, 2019 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, University of Michigan:
"I couldn't be more proud of hearing this news. Yak is as genuine as they come and truly cares about you as a person and an athlete. He's a brilliant basketball mind. I never went into any game feeling under prepared. He's a great teacher and an even better listener. I'm excited to see Yak take the program to new heights. He's going to work relentlessly to do so."
Zavier Simpson, 2019 All-Big Ten Second Team and All-Big Ten Defensive Team, University of Michigan:
"Coach Luke Yaklich is a great, very high-intense basketball coach. He is a coach who can relate to others on and off the court through simple conversation. You want to play for Coach Yak due to the respect he gives and the relationship he develops with his players and his passion and intensity for the game that he brings everyday! I loved playing for him and he's a proven winner ready to take on all challenges.
Luke Yaklich's Record as a Head Coach:
| YEAR |
SCHOOL |
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
Postseason |
| 2022-23 |
UIC |
12-20 |
4-16 (11th place) |
|
| 2021-22 |
UIC |
14-16 |
9-10 (8th place) |
|
| 2020-21 |
UIC |
9-13 |
6-10 (10th place) |
|
| TOTALS |
3 seasons |
35-49 (.417) |
19-36 (.345) |
|
Luke Yaklich's Record as an Associate Head Coach/Assistant Coach:
| YEAR |
SCHOOL |
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
Postseason |
| 2019-20* |
Texas |
19-12 |
9-9 (3rd place) |
Presumptive NCAA Tournament bid |
| 2018-19 |
Michigan |
30-7 |
15-5 (3rd place) |
NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2017-18 |
Michigan |
33-8 |
13-5 (T-4th place) |
NCAA Runner-Up |
| 2016-17* |
Illinois State |
28-7 |
17-1 (T-1st place) |
NIT Second Round |
| 2015-16 |
Illinois State |
18-14 |
12-6 (T-2nd place) |
|
| 2014-15 |
Illinois State |
22-13 |
11-7 (T-3rd place) |
NIT Second Round |
| 2013-14 |
Illinois State |
18-16 |
9-9 (T-4th place) |
CBI Semifinals |
| TOTALS |
7 seasons |
168-77 (.686) |
86-42 (.672) |
2 NCAA, 2 NIT, 1 CBI |
* denotes seasons as Associate Head Coach
Luke Yaklich's Record as a High School Head Coach:
| YEARS |
SCHOOL |
RECORD |
| 2007-13 |
Joliet West High School |
|
| 2003-07 |
LaSalle-Peru Township High School (Boys) |
|
| 2000-03 |
Sterling High School (Boys) |
|
| 1998-2000 |
LaSalle-Peru Township High School (Girls) |
|
| TOTALS |
14 seasons |
214-173 (.553) |
Coach Yaklich in the News:
'It's a perfect scenario': And now the work begins for Luke Yaklich at UIC - By Brian Hamilton,
The Athletic
UIC hires Luke Yaklich as head basketball coach - By Joe Henricksen,
Chicago Sun-Times
'All dressed up and nowhere to go': - Luke Yaklich is UIC's new men's basketball coach - only he has to work more than 1,100 miles away for now - By Shannon Ryan,
Chicago Tribune
Former Michigan assistant Luke Yaklich named head coach at Illinois-Chicago - By James Hawkins,
The Detroit News
AUDIO: Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score (Interview with Yaklich begins at 29:12)
AUDIO: Under the Hood with Jonathan Hood on ESPN 1000
Luke Yaklich and the Big Jump from Michigan to Texas - By Brendan Quinn,
The Athletic
'I still consider myself a high school teacher.' The architect of No. 2 Michigan's lockdown defense has deep roots in Illinois - By Shannon Ryan,
The Chicago Tribune
Michigan basketball assistant Luke Yaklich not above rearranging furniture to teach his defense - By Andrew Kahn,
MLive
How a history teacher became Michigan hoops' secret weapon - By Zach Braziller,
New York Post
How basketball defense architect Luke Yaklich landed at Michigan - By Kirk Wessler,
Peoria Journal Star
How an ex-high school social studies teacher helped put Michigan in the Final Four - By Matt Norlander,
CBS Sports
How a former high school history teacher became the key to Michigan's Final Four run - By Jeff Eisenberg,
Yahoo! Sports
In one season, Yaklich has changed Michigan's defensive fortunes - By Kyle Rowland,
The Toledo Blade
How Luke Yaklich and Zavier Simpson launched Michigan's defensive renaissance - By Rob Dauster,
NBC Sports
Goss: Luke Yaklich vitally involved in Michigan's success - By Dick Goss,
The Herald-News
The architect of Michigan's new identity - By Max Marcovitch,
Michigan Daily
Inside the defensive mind of Michigan's Luke Yaklich - By Brendan Quinn,
The Athletic
