Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith has been hired to be head coach at the University of Illinois, the school said Monday.
Smith, who was fired after this past season as Bucs’ coach, replaces Bill Cubit. Cubit was fired Saturday after one season in charge at Illinois.
Smith said in a news release that he did not hesitate to take his first college head-coaching job.
Smith coached the Buccaneers for two years and had an 8-24 overall record. He was fired in January.
The defensive-minded Smith also took the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006 where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts.