- Program
- Illinois
- Level
- FBS
- In Role Since
- 2020
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Education
- University of Iowa, B.A. Marketing (1992)
Profile
Bret Bielema was named Illinois’ head coach in December 2020 and has compiled 134 career FBS wins as a head coach across Wisconsin, Arkansas and Illinois, ranking seventh among active FBS coaches per the supplied biography text. At Illinois he led the program to 37 wins in his first five seasons, the most in program history for that span, and guided Illinois to bowl victories in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. Bielema previously led Wisconsin to three straight Big Ten championships from 2010-12 and a 68-24 record in Madison.
Coaching Approach
Builds physically oriented teams that produce NFL talent and linemen: as a head coach he has overseen 40 All-Americans and 59 NFL Draft picks, and his Wisconsin teams during 2010-12 won three straight Big Ten titles and produced multiple NFL draft selections at offensive line and other positions (source facts taken from the supplied biography text).
Career Highlights
- Named Illinois head coach in December 2020
- Has a 134-84 career head coaching record across 17 seasons as stated in the supplied biography text
- Led Wisconsin to three straight Big Ten championships (2010, 2011, 2012) and a 68-24 record at Wisconsin per the supplied biography text
Sources
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