The University of Illinois dipped into the NFL for its head coach after firing former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith.
Bret Bielema was named head coach of the Fighting Illini on Saturday. He was the outside linebackers coach and senior assistant for the New York Giants during the 2020 season.
Introducing new #Illini head coach, @BretBielema!
📝 » https://t.co/qBG5DIqZRU pic.twitter.com/cZL9k9n1Tq
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) December 19, 2020
“Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me, and I can’t be any more excited about the opportunity in front of me with the Fighting Illini,” Bielema said. “We want to build a program that makes Illini Nation proud and regain the passion that I’ve seen when Illinois wins. We want the young men playing football in the state of Illinois from Freeport to Cairo and from Quincy to Danville dreaming of wearing the Orange and Blue and playing at Memorial Stadium. I look forward to re-connecting with the high school coaches around the state making it clear we intend to keep our players home.
“We will build an outstanding staff for both player development and recruiting. The University of Illinois has incredible facilities and is known as one of the world’s outstanding academic institutions. We will hold the young men on our team responsible both on and off the field while coaching them to be champions in life. Jen and I, along with our girls, are excited to get to Champaign-Urbana and get started on the journey. Go Illini!”
Bielema has head coaching experience on the college level. From 2006-12 Bielema was the head coach at Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to three Big Ten championships (2010-12), six consecutive bowl games and a 68-24 record (.739). Bielema then spent five seasons as head coach at Arkansas from 2013-17.
Overall, the native of Prophetstown, Illinois, Bielema compiled a 12-year record of 97-58 (.626) as head coach at Wisconsin and Arkansas.
Smith, 62, went 17-39 (10-33 in the Big Ten) in five seasons at Illinois, his first stop in college football since 1995, when he coached defensive backs at Ohio State. The Illini were 2-5 in 2020.
The Bret Bielema File
Hometown: Prophetstown, Illinois
Birthdate: January 13, 1970
Family: Wife: Jen; Children: Briella (born in 2017) and Brexli (born in 2018)
Twitter:Â @BretBielema
Education: B.S. in Marketing, Iowa, 1992
Playing Experience:
Iowa, 1989-92
Signed free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks, 1993
Milwaukee Mustangs, Arena Football League, 1994
Coaching Career
| Years | University/Organization | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Illinois | Head Coach |
| 2020 | New York Giants | Outside Linebackers, Senior Assistant Coach |
| 2019 | New England Patriots | Defensive Line |
| 2018 | New England Patriots | Consultant to the Head Coach |
| 2013-17 | Arkansas | Head Coach (29-34) |
| 2006-12 | Wisconsin | Head Coach (68-24) |
| 2004-05 | Wisconsin | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2002-03 | Kansas State | Co-Defensive Coordinator |
| 1996-2001 | Iowa | Linebackers |
| 1994-95 | Iowa | Graduate Assistant |
Head Coaching Record
| Years | School | W-L | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Wisconsin | 12-1 (.923) | Capital One Bowl |
| 2007 | Wisconsin | 9-4 (.692) | Outback Bowl |
| 2008 | Wisconsin | 7-6 (.538) | Champs Sports Bowl |
| 2009 | Wisconsin | 10-3 (.769) | Champs Sports Bowl |
| 2010 | Wisconsin | 11-2 (.846) | Rose Bowl |
| 2011 | Wisconsin | 11-3 (.786) | Rose Bowl |
| 2012 | Wisconsin | 8-5 (.615) | (Did not coach Rose Bowl) |
| 2013 | Arkansas | 3-9 (.250) | |
| 2014 | Arkansas | 7-6 (.538) | Texas Bowl |
| 2015 | Arkansas | 8-5 (.615) | Liberty Bowl |
| 2016 | Arkansas | 7-6 (.538) | Belk Bowl |
| 2017 | Arkansas | 4-8 (.333) | |
| TOTAL | 12 Years | Overall: 97-58 (.626)Â Big Ten: 37-19 (.661) |