MEN'S BASKETBALL Weber is Illinois' new head coach

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Bruce Weber has been waiting for his chance to be a head coach in the Big Ten and now he has it at Illinois, where he was named as the school's 16th men's basketball coach.
"I've said I would only take a job where I felt I had an opportunity to be at a national program at a place where I had a chance to finish my career ... and have a chance of winning a national championship. And I believe that this is it," said Weber, who has coached at Southern Illinois the past five seasons.
"I am honored and humbled to be named the coach here," he said after his new post was announced Wednesday. "It's a tremendous honor."
Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther said Weber has all the qualities he was seeking -- Midwest roots and Big Ten experience, integrity and commitment to academics.
Weber, 46, spent 18 seasons at Purdue as an assistant under coach Gene Keady before going to Southern Illinois in 1998.
Replaces Self
He replaces Bill Self, who left April 21 after three seasons to become head coach at Kansas. Perhaps stung by that sudden departure, Guenther took a step to ensure Weber's longevity by including a $1 million buyout clause in his contract, twice the buyout that was in Self's contract.
Weber said he has no plans to leave Champaign. His mother lives 200 miles away in Milwaukee and he has family in the Chicago area. His nephew is a UI student, he said.
Weber agreed to a five-year contract worth $500,000 per year, according to a university spokeswoman. He will be paid a salary of $150,000 with the remainder coming from radio and television appearances, promotional work, camps and other public relations appearances. The deal is subject to approval by the university's Board of Trustees.