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- Thread starter osugrad21
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Illini Dylan
Heisman
I figured he would get another year, but this is the right call. I feel bad because Lovie is a really likeable guy, but Illinois football is an extremely difficult job and he just wasn't a college coach.
The guy I'd like to have is Jeff Monken from Army. Being from Peoria, and having played at Millikin in Decatur, he's familiar with Central Illinois, worth a shot to see if he has any interest in taking this on. No idea if his style could work in the Big Ten, but going to 4 bowls and winning 10+ games a couple of times at Army is not easy to do.
The guy I'd like to have is Jeff Monken from Army. Being from Peoria, and having played at Millikin in Decatur, he's familiar with Central Illinois, worth a shot to see if he has any interest in taking this on. No idea if his style could work in the Big Ten, but going to 4 bowls and winning 10+ games a couple of times at Army is not easy to do.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Lovie Smith out as head football coach of Illinois Fighting Illini after 5 seasons
Smith, 62, went 17-39 (10-33 in the Big Ten) in five seasons at Illinois, his first stop in college football since 1995, when he coached defensive backs at Ohio State. He had a lengthy NFL career that included head-coaching stops with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith guided the Bears to a Super Bowl in 2006 and went 81-63 with the team.
Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman hired Smith just weeks after his own hiring in the winter of 2016. Smith led Illinois to a bowl appearance in 2019, and the team had high expectations this fall with many key players returning.
"Lovie Smith led the Illinois football program with unquestioned integrity during his nearly five years of service," said Whitman in a statement. "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. 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."
Potential candidates to replace Smith include Buffalo's Lance Leipold, Army's Jeff Monken, Kent State's Sean Lewis, New York Giants assistant Bret Bielema (a former head coach at Wisconsin and Arkansas), Nevada's Jay Norvell, Toledo's Jason Candle, Tulane's Willie Fritz and several coordinators, including Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Entire article: https://www.espn.com/college-footba...head-coach-illinois-fighting-illini-5-seasons
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Illinois' best all time coach might be Robert Zuppke.
Or Texas could actually fire Herman and hire him back.....
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LovelandBuckeye
You never lose to those pricks. Ever. Ever. - UFM
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Bret Bielema? It could be time to look for barbecue joints in Champaign that need some investment.
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