Former Wisconsin Badgers football coach Bret Bielema is returning to the Big Ten.
The University of Illinois announced Bielema as its new football coach with a press release on Saturday. Bielema takes over for Lovie Smith, who was fired after going 17-39 in five seasons.
“Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me, and I can’t be any more excited about the opportunity in front of me with the Fighting Illini,” Bielema said in a statement. “We want to build a program that makes Illini Nation proud and regain the passion that I’ve seen when Illinois wins.