CARBONDALE, ILL. ? Bruce Weber, who coached Southern Illinois to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances and the Missouri Valley Conference crown last season, confirmed Tuesday night he will be the new head basketball coach at Illinois.

“Yes,” Weber responded when asked by a reporter if he was taking the Illinois job. He declined to say anything more as he closed the door to his rural Carbondale home.

Weber, 46, told his players of his decision Tuesday night, staying at his office past 10 p.m.

“Coach Weber’s a good coach,” said SIU redshirt freshman Ryan Walker. “He’s moving on to bigger and better things. You can’t turn down an offer from U of I. It gives credit to our program, too.”

Weber will replace Bill Self, who left 10 days ago to become head coach at Kansas University.