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Illinois Football: Top 3 head coaching candidates to replace Lovie Smith

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold looks on during a warm up prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold looks on during a warm up prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 24, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema prior to leaving the field after the game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2017; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema prior to leaving the field after the game against the Missouri Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Bret Bielema, New York Giants assistant

Should Bret Bielema have ever left Wisconsin? Probably not. He went 68-24 as head coach of the Badgers from 2006-2012 and went to two Rose Bowls, winning 10-plus games four times. He chose to leave for Arkansas and he’d be the first to admit privately that the move was a mistake.

Could he take over an SEC West rival?

The move would make sense for Bielema, the only question is would Illinois take the chance after he’s been out of college football since 2017? He’s been an assistant at the NFL level for the past three years, working under Bill Belichick for a couple years and the Giants in 2020.

Bielema is familiar with the Big Ten and recruiting in the Midwest and he’s shown that he can win in this conference, so this might be a safe bet for the Fighting Illini.

No, he’s not one of the up-and-coming coaches that some fans may be calling for, but he’s a proven former Big Ten coach with three conference titles and a Big Ten coach of the year award under his belt.

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