Illinois fires head coach Lovie Smith after 5 seasons
Lovie Smith’s tenure at the University of Illinois has come to an end.
The university announced Sunday that Smith will not return as the Illinois head coach in 2021. Over five years coaching the Illini, Smith compiled a 17-39 record with a 10-33 mark in Big Ten play. Illinois reached one bowl game along the way, losing to Cal in the Redbox Bowl in 2019.
“Lovie Smith led the Illinois football program with unquestioned integrity during his nearly five years of service,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said. “I have tremendous respect for Coach Smith and will always be grateful to him for providing a steady, experienced hand at a time when our program required stability. His unshakeable leadership, never more needed than during this pandemic, will be forever remembered.
“Nonetheless, based on extensive evaluation of the program’s current state and future outlook, I have concluded the program is not progressing at the rate we should expect at this advanced stage in Coach Smith’s tenure. To achieve our competitive objectives, I believe new leadership of the football program is required. I will always look fondly on the time Lovie and I have spent together. I wish him and MaryAnne nothing but the best.”
Smith, 62, arrived at Illinois in 2016 after 11 years as a head coach in the NFL — nine years with the Chicago Bears and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith led the Bears to a Super Bowl appearance in 2007.
Smith inherited a program dealing with the fallout of Tim Beckman’s tumultuous departure. He never got things going. His teams won a combined nine games over his first three years, including a 2017 season where the Illini went winless in Big Ten play. The program’s best season under Smith came in 2019, when it went 6-7.
This year, Illinois has a 2-5 record following a 28-10 loss to Northwestern on Saturday in which it allowed 411 rushing yards. Illinois has one additional game this season against a to-be-determined opponent. Rod Smith, the team’s offensive coordinator, will serve as acting head coach.
Illinois is now the third Power Five job opening, joining Vanderbilt and Arizona.
Some names for Illinois: Army's Jeff Monken, Buffalo's Lance Leipold, former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, Kent's Sean Lewis, Iowa State OC Tom Manning, Ball State's Mike Neu, Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard and Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 13, 2020
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