Ask Klee about Frazier during his Wednesday chat by clicking here

CHAMPAIGN – It's an odd sight, seeing Chester Frazier holed up at a cubicle in the Illinois basketball offices.

Not too odd, though. In a matter of minutes he's back on the court – ah, that's more like it – working a day camp for kids who idolize the popular former Illini. Still later, he's imploring guys to "Run!" on a fast break with the current players at the team's practice facility.

"Right now I'm doing whatever they need me to do," Frazier said during his lunch break Tuesday.

Frazier's old title – Illinois guard – soon will be replaced by a new one: Illinois student assistant coach. That title kicks in at the start of the 2009-10 academic year, according to Chris Peacock, the assistant athletics director in charge of compliance. NCAA rules will allow Frazier to engage in regular coaching activities and be on the court during practice sessions next season. He won't be able to recruit off-campus, Peacock said. That's one of the position's few limitations.

"I feel like one of my strongest points was my leadership qualities and my knowledge of the game. It makes me feel good to see players get better," Frazier said of why he pursued the position. "I'm pretty sure I'll be doing a lot of everything, just trying to get my feet wet and trying to learn as much as I can as far as the X's and O's and everything."

The transition from player to coach is a natural fit for Frazier. Particularly in the latter part of his four-year career, he viewed a win or a loss in a different light than other players. He was more analytical, as though he was breaking down a game on film.

Case in point: Frazier's take on Illinois' loss to Western Kentucky in the NCAA tournament, a game he missed due to a broken hand.

"We needed to have somebody to get our big guys the ball. They (Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale) thrive on penetration and kicks. You can't just dump the ball into those guys and expect them to get 20," he said. "Those guys float around and find open spots and they shoot their jump shots. The movement aspect, just watching it, was a lot different than it was with me in the game. We just couldn't take advantage of our size. And our defense on the other end was lacking."

See? Sounds more like a coach than a player.

And Frazier's new gig might benefit the Illini as much it benefits Frazier.

Coach Bruce Weber said next season Frazier will be able to compete in drills and scrimmages, though Weber and Frazier said how often he practices probably would depend on the team's health.

If a guard is injured, for example, he could sub in for a practice or two. More likely, the Illini will want the current players get as many repetitions as possible.

"If he can show the younger guys what to do, how hard you have to work, the right way to do things, that helps us. And the older guys (as well)," Weber said recently.

NCAA bylaw 11.01.4, which governs the student assistant position, states that a student assistant coach must be enrolled at the institution where he competed as a player. After completing his undergraduate studies in August, Frazier will pursue a master's degree in education.

Continuing his playing career was an option – and he hasn't nixed the idea of playing overseas. Agents have been in contact with Frazier, who only would leap at the chance if the price was right.

"They're still trying. It's tempting, some of the financial situations. But the money's not too good right now. I'm still keeping an open ear, but my heart's here," said Frazier, who noted he will receive a monthly stipend as a student assistant. "If someone offers me some crazy money, I might take it. I'm just playing it by ear. If they say, 'Chester, we can get you $40,000 or $50,000, I've got to take it.'"

Frazier wants to stay in basketball over the long haul. The Baltimore product said his dream job might be as a head coach at a high-major program on the East Coast.

"I don't think I'm ready yet," said Frazier, 23, with a laugh. "But one day maybe take over somewhere as a head coach, hopefully sooner rather than later. Sometimes I have my own styles and philosophies that people may not agree with. So hopefully when I get my own team I can put them on display."

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from viewing offseason workouts. But since Frazier's student assistant gig doesn't begin until the fall, he can view and participate in pickup games now. For Illinois it's like having a coach on the floor when the coaches can't be on the floor.

After two weeks of pickup games and workouts, Frazier offered his philosophy for the next Illinois squad.

"Well, you have to play to your strengths. With this team I would like to see them get up and down a little more. Full-court pressure, maybe," he said. "We have a lot of guys in the rotation, so we could play an up-tempo game, kind of like Missouri plays. It would give us a chance to rotate guys and get more guys in the game."