CHAMPAIGN — Lovie Smith will be at Illinois through at least the 2023 season after a two-year contract extension was announced late Sunday morning.
Smith's third season at Illinois ended with Saturday's loss at Northwestern. That dropped the Illini to 4-8 on the season. Smith is 9-27 overall at Illinois and just 4-23 in the Big Ten.
“This extension demonstrates my belief in Lovie Smith, his staff, and the plan they have for the future success of Illinois Football,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a release. “I have studied our program extensively, and I see steady progress, both in the development of our current players and the talent we are adding to our roster.