CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Former NFL coach Lovie Smith was hired as the Illinois football coach today, two days after the firing of Bill Cubit following a 5-7 season. Smith, who took the Chicago Bears to the 2006 Super Bowl, was dismissed as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January.
Cubit was let go after one season in charge. Smith said he is intent on making the Illini a Big Ten power and was expected to be introduced at a campus news conference this afternoon.
Pending approval of university trustees, Smith has a six-year contract worth $21 million in salary.