Stevens says he's staying at Butler

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Butler coach Brad Stevens says he is staying with the Bulldogs.

Stevens says he is "happy and extremely grateful" to be the Butler coach, and is already looking forward to next season. He made his remarks in a statement issued by the school on Sunday.

Stevens led Butler to the national championship game in 2010 and 2011, becoming a coaching commodity along the way. The reason for the statement was unclear, but Illinois is currently searching for a coach and there has been speculation that the Illini were interested in Stevens.

Butler went 22-15 this season, running Stevens' record to 139-40 in five seasons with the school.

Updated March 25, 2012