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

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Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold reacts from the sideline during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Buffalo 45-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Lance Leipold, Buffalo head coach

Right now, Lance Leipold might be the favorite to land the Illinois job and it would be a good fit for both sides. There may be a desire to find an up-and-coming coach like the aforementioned Marcus Freeman or even Sean Lewis at Kent State, but why not go with a proven winner like Leipold who has excelled at every program at which he’s coached?

Leipold got his start with Wisconsin-Whitewater in Division III where he went 109-6 in eight seasons, winning six national titles and losing in the championship game in another year. He had five 15-0 seasons with Wisconsin-Whitewater and made the jump to the FBS with Buffalo in 2015.

Buffalo wasn’t exactly a MAC powerhouse before he got there and the Bulls went just 13-23 in his first three seasons. Over the last three years, he’s 23-9, including a 5-0 start to the 2020 season where his Bulls are ranked.

Leipold has a strong track record in the upper Midwest in terms of recruiting and it’s clear that he would have success with Illinois’ footprint. He would have no problem with the Illini.

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