Ever since the slush fund, emphatically, but nobody admits it outside of high level chats
The Illinois Football Coaching Search
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Auburn just fired Gus Malzahn
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
Doubt he comes here, but it's always humorous to see fans of these programs say that multiple 4-loss seasons are just downright unacceptable.
They just paid him something like $21.5 million to go away. Crazy.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I move that no other NCAA team is allowed to fire their head coach.
Not saying it’s who I want. Just saying he’s my prediction. I’ll be surprised if it’s not him. But I was surprised he wasn’t named our coach about 11 months ago actually.
sacraig
- The desert
This sort of thing is not unique to Illinois.
Given what @illini0440 mentioned regarding what the admin wants out of the hire, I seriously doubt it would be Bielema. Doesn't seem like somebody that would gel well enough with the higher ups.
I know very little about him, but he’s 30+ games over .500 overall at Auburn and 10+ over in conference. Oh to have a head coach to put up numbers like that at Illinois.
I'd like to thank Josh Whitman for making this move today and giving me something to take my mind off the Mizzou game.
Yeah at face value that doesn’t fit that great. Was surprised to see that comment actually.
things change, we will see. I’d still take Bielema against the field right now.
DaChief4ever
- Urbana
OH yea.....Malzahn fired after 6-4 record...huh? Quite the low bar we have here....
chrisRunner7
- Spokane, WA
My gut is telling me that these rules were obviously not written with the Illinois head football coach position in mind, but that they were written to make sure that taxpayer-funded public university positions are filled on a fair/competitive basis with limited nepotism.
ESPSN mentioned these coaches as possible successors. Thoughts?
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.
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.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Where is Gus Malzhan going that he isn’t coming here? Maybe he sits out a year and waits for a better opportunity but holy crap I put all my focus on getting him.
If true, some will be happy, some mad, very risky. I’m not all that thrilled by it.
you still make the call to see what it costs if you think they can get it done.
DaChief4ever
- Urbana
Didnt' Bielima have a 7 Million Dollar lawsuit against last stop at Arkansas? Not exactly a " good image" guy...
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Not Scott Turner, as was mentioned earlier...ehhh. Don't want very risky.
5 years ago one guy kept posting Dino Babers over and over, and another kept harping Fuentes.
Now it's Bielema . . . As for that fellow being a DB, I think Petrino is a charter member of that club.
And as for the post-er who wants no more NCAA firings, he should consult with the folks over at Ann Arbor.
Now it's Bielema . . . As for that fellow being a DB, I think Petrino is a charter member of that club.
And as for the post-er who wants no more NCAA firings, he should consult with the folks over at Ann Arbor.
Interesting... I’ve gotten 2 different answers when I’ve asked around. One I personally believe is high risk, the other not so much.
TMC999
- Not Iowa
No way. He is a goof and failed when he had to build his own staff. His success at UW is because their culture was so embedded. Hard pass.
Is this in regards to who you are hearing the next coach will be? Thanks!
Can you elaborate? Names? Hints?
Well yes the bar is low, but that’s 8-4 in a normal year with two cream puff non conference games.
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