CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On March 7, 2016, the Illini hired former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith to be the new leader of their football program.
Smith’s job was to turn the program around after four straight losing seasons and years of underachieving. It was a rocky start for the former Bears skipper, who won a total of nine games in his first three seasons, but the Illini finally started to flip the script with a six win season in 2019 and the program’s first bowl appearance in a half decade.
Smith earned an extension through the 2023 season, not only because of the fact that the play on the field has improved but also because of the way he treats his players.