Illinois Makes Football Coaching Change
Ends Five-year Run with Lovie Smith as Fighting Illini Leader
CHAMPAIGN, IL – Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced today that Lovie Smith has been relieved of his duties as head football coach after five seasons at the helm of the Fighting Illini. Smith will not coach the Illini during its final game of the season.
“Lovie Smith led the Illinois football program with unquestioned integrity during his nearly five years of service,” said Whitman. “I have tremendous respect for Coach Smith and will always be grateful to him for providing a steady, experienced hand at a time when our program required stability. His unshakeable leadership, never more needed than during this pandemic, will be forever remembered.
“Nonetheless, based on extensive evaluation of the program’s current state and future outlook, I have concluded the program is not progressing at the rate we should expect at this advanced stage in Coach Smith’s tenure,” Whitman continued. “To achieve our competitive objectives, I believe new leadership of the football program is required. I will always look fondly on the time Lovie and I have spent together. I wish him and MaryAnne nothing but the best.”
Following yesterday’s 28-10 loss to Northwestern, in five seasons Smith compiled a 17-39 overall record and 10-33 record in the Big Ten, including a 2-5 mark in 2020. The Fighting Illini’s best finish under Smith was fourth place in the Big Ten West Division in 2019 after leading Illinois to two of the most historic wins in school history.
Smith took Illinois to the Redbox Bowl in 2019, the Illini’s first bowl in five years, after clinching a berth with a thrilling 37-34 victory at Michigan State. Illinois trailed the Spartans by 25 points in the first half, including a 31-10 deficit in the fourth quarter, before completing the greatest comeback in school history. His ‘signature win’ came three weeks earlier when Illinois defeated sixth-ranked Wisconsin after entering the game as a 30-point underdog.
Smith came to Illinois in 2016 after 11 seasons as head coach in the NFL, including nine seasons at the helm of the Chicago Bears and his final two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He compiled an overall record of 89-87 in those 11 seasons, culminating with a Super Bowl XLI appearance following the 2006 season. Smith and Tony Dungy became the first two African-American head coaches to coach in the Super Bowl when they faced each other in Super Bowl XLI.
Beginning immediately, the athletic program will launch a national search to identify Coach Smith’s successor. Whitman will be available to the media today at 3:00 pm CT, and will not speak again publicly until the search process is completed.
Offensive Coordinator Rod Smith will conclude the season as the acting head coach.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-20 Illinois Head Coach (17-39)
2014-15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach (8-24)
2004-12 Chicago Bears Head Coach (81-63)
2003 St. Louis Rams Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2001-02 St. Louis Rams Defensive Coordinator
1996-2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebackers
1995 Ohio State Defensive Backs
1993-94 Tennessee Defensive Backs
1992 Kentucky Linebackers
1988-1991 Arizona State Linebackers
1987 Wisconsin Linebackers
1983-86 Tulsa Linebackers
1981-82 Cascia Hall Prep HS (Tulsa, OK) Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs/Wide Receivers
1980 Big Sandy HS (Big Sandy, Texas) Defensive Coordinator
LOVIE SMITH’S HEAD COACHING RECORD
YEAR TEAM REG. SEASON POSTSEASON HIGHLIGHTS
2004 Chicago Bears 5-11
2005 Chicago Bears 11-5 0-1, NFC North Champions, AP Coach of the Year
2006 Chicago Bears 13-3 2-1, NFC Champions, NFC North Champions
2007 Chicago Bears 7-9
2008 Chicago Bears 9-7
2009 Chicago Bears 7-9
2010 Chicago Bears 11-5 1-1, NFC North Champions
2011 Chicago Bears 8-8
2012 Chicago Bears 10-6
2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-14
2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10
NFL 11 SEASONS 89-87 3-3, 1 SUPER BOWL APPEARANCE
YEAR TEAM OVERALL BIG TEN BIG TEN FINISH POSTSEASON
2016 Illinois 3-9 2-7 6th (B1G West)
2017 Illinois 2-10 0-9 7th (B1G West)
2018 Illinois 4-8 2-7 7th (B1G West)
2019 Illinois 6-7 4-5 4th (B1G West) Redbox Bowl
2020 Illinois 2-5 2-5
COLLEGE 5TH SEASON 17-39 10-33
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