After 11 seasons that included three Big Ten Conference championships and a trip to the NCAA tournament, Doug Mills removed himself as head coach of the Fighting Illini, however; he remained as the University of Illinois athletic director until 1966.

Combes was a senior during Mills' first season with the Fighting Illini, a team that won the conference championship.

During Combes' 20 years as head coach, the Illini won 316 games while losing only 150, a .678 winning percentage.

Combes came to Illinois after spending five seasons at Champaign High School where he served as boys basketball and baseball coach.

Bill Erickson, Dwight Eddleman, Jack Burmaster, Wally Osterkorn, Fred Green, Burdette Thurlby and Jim Marks returned from a team that finished with an overall record of 14–6, placing second in the Big Ten.