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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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Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman high fives Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyler Scott (21) as he comes off the field following a special teams play in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game against the Army Black Knights, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won 24-10.
Cincinnati Bearcats defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman high fives Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tyler Scott (21) as he comes off the field following a special teams play in the fourth quarter during an NCAA college football game against the Army Black Knights, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bearcats won 24-10. /

2. Marcus Freeman, Cincinnati defensive coordinator

Some might be clamoring for Luke Fickell to be the next coach of Illinois, but if he’s not going to take the Michigan State job which was far more attractive after a decade of success under Mark Dantonio, there’s no way he leaves Cincinnati for the Illini.

Fickell may be waiting for Ryan Day to head to the NFL or another blue-blood program to have an opening in order to leave Cincinnati, especially after he’s built things up there.

So why not go after his coach-in-waiting, defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman?

The top assistant for Fickell was tied to other jobs in the Power Five last season as a defensive coordinator, even at Michigan State under Mel Tucker, but he stayed put and it’s paid off as the Bearcats have one of the nation’s top defenses and are in position to make a New Year’s Six bowl.

Freeman played at Ohio State and has plenty of coaching experience and familiarity with the conference and the recruiting footprint in the Midwest. He’s one of the better recruiters in the Group of Five and could revitalize a dormant Illinois program.

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