The Illinois Fighting Illini football program represents the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign within the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. It holds its place as a founding member of the Big Ten Conference, competing in the West Division. The Fighting Illini have won five national championships and 15 Big Ten conference championships. They were established in 1890 and play their home games at the Memorial Stadium in Urbana, Illinois. The team's mascot is Chief Illiniwek, although it was retired in 2007. The Illinois Fighting Illini football team has a long-standing rivalry with the Northwestern Wildcats, which is called the 'Land of Lincoln Trophy' game, as both the teams are based in Illinois. The Illini also have a historic rivalry with the Indiana Hoosiers. The Illinois Marching Band, also known as the 'Marching Illini,' plays at home games. This is one of the oldest and most respected college marching bands in the nation. The school's fight song, 'Oskee Wow Wow,' is an anthem played at athletic events to show support to the team.
Illinois Football Coaching Staff 2024
Head Coach Of Illinois Football Coaching Staff 2024
Bret Bielema is the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini football team. He was appointed as the 26th head coach in December 2020. In his first year, the team achieved a 5-7 record in 2021, with notable wins over strong opponents like Penn State and Minnesota. With 25 years of coaching experience, Bielema's coaching record stands at 110-70 as head coach at different universities. Having signed a six-year agreement in 2022, Bielema's leadership led the team to an 8-5 record in 2022. It secured a bowl game appearance in just his second season. The team was ranked No. 14 in the AP Top 25 rankings and appeared in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in school history in 2023.
Read more: Illinois vs Ohio State Football Rivalry
Illinois Football Coaching Staff
Here's a list of all the coaching staffs for the Illinois Fighting Illini Football team in 2024, along with their designations:
| Position | Name | Consecutive Seasons (as of 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Bret Bielema | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Offensive Coordinator | Barry Lunney Jr. | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Defensive Coordinator | Aaron Henry | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Special Teams Coordinator | Ben Miller | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Quarterbacks Coach | Tony Petersen | 2nd Season (2024) |
| Running Backs Coach | Cory Patterson | 2nd Season (2024) |
| Wide Receivers Coach | George McDonald | 2nd Season (2024) |
| Offensive Line Coach | Bart Miller | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Defensive Line Coach | Kevin Kane | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Linebackers Coach | Ryan Walters | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Defensive Backs Coach | Aaron Henry | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Director of Football Operations | Jay Niemann | 3rd Season (2024) |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Adam Cushing | 3rd Season (2024) |
Read More: Illinois Fighting Illini Football
FAQs on Illinois Fighting Illini
A. Illinois Fighting Illini play in the Big Ten Conference.
A. Illinois Fighting Illini play at the Memorial Stadium in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
A. Illinois Fighting Illini was established in 1890.
A. Illinois Fighting Illini won two national championships (in 1914 and 1927).
A. Illinois Fighting Illini head coach is Bret Bielema.
