Illinois Fighting Illini Spring Game 2015: Five Things to Watch
By Wes Evans
Nov 1, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Tim Beckman against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
5. Coach Beckman’s Future
It is not often that a coach’s future is talked about this early in the year but Tim Beckman needs to show Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas that his team can compete year in and year out.
Attending one bowl game (which was a travesty) in three years does not mean Beckman has solid job security. It is about a football team that can be relevant in the Big Ten… not necessarily by winning the conference championship, but by at least having an above .500 record in conference play. Beckman is 4-20 in conference play and needs to show his employer that his team is trending in the right direction.
Only time will tell if Beckman will get the Illinois football program to the next level. Beckman has an overall record of 12-25 during his time as head coach at Illinois and had added two wins to his season totals over the past three years. Let’s see if he can continue that streak and get some momentum behind this program.
Next: Top 10 Big Ten Running Backs Entering 2015 Season
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