Illinois Football: 5 possible replacements for Lovie Smith as next Fighting Illini coach
By Dante Pryor
Lovie Smith was fired as the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini was fired after five seasons. Here are five possible replacements for Smith in Champaign.
As of this morning, Lovie Smith has been fired as head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini after five seasons. During Smith’s time, the Fighting Ilini was 17-39 going to one bowl game –the Redbox Bowl– in 2019 losing to Cal. This was Smith’s first head coaching job at the collegiate level. Before coming to Champaign, Smith coached in the NFL first with the Chicago Bears for nine seasons and then for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last two.
Smith led the Bears to the Superbowl in 2006. Smith was hired as head coach of the Fighting Illini to stabilize the program after former head coach Tim Beck was unceremoniously fired in 2015. Smith, however, could never get the program going. the Illini won just five games in Smith’s first two seasons but went to a bowl game in 2019.
The offense never got going under Smith. In 2019, their 26.7 points per game were the best season Illinois had under Smith. This season, the Illini seemed to finally find their identity on offense this season employing a power running game. A combination of lack of wins and an 0-5 record ultimately doomed Smith. Who will take the helm of the Illinois program? Here are five possible candidates.
5. Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
This could be wishful thinking on the part of Illinois fans simply because Luke Fickell can have his pick of jobs and could stay and be happy at Cincinnati while the ideal position opens. Fickell and the Bearcats are undefeated so far this season and went 22-5 the two previous seasons.
Fickell is not desperate and could be patient and wait for a job where there is not a long rebuilding process. Though another Big Ten job opening is likely not going to happen this cycle, there is bound to be a higher profile position available either this season or next. The odds are Fickell bides his time and waits on a bigger coaching job.