3. Bret Bielema, Giants assistant, former Wisconsin/Arkansas head coach
Former Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has the resume to be a head coach at Illinois. Bielema –currently a defensive assistant for the New York Giants– had his greatest success as a college coach with the Wisconsin Badgers. As head coach at Wisconsin, Bielema won 68 games and won 10 or more games three consecutive years from 2009-2011 winning the Big Ten in 2010 and 2011. Bielema began coaching at his alma mater, Iowa where he played for legendary coach Hayden Fry.
Though Bielema has been in the NFL since 2018, his name has been linked to several college openings in the last few cycles. Most recently, Bielema interviewed for the Southern Miss opening. Bielema wants back in the college game. The Southern Miss job is evidence Bielema wants back in and a top tier job is not priority one. Bielema’s knowledge of how to win in the Big Ten and the ability to build a roster from the trenches would be an asset at Illinois. At 50-years-old, Bielema is relatively young in the coaching game but could stay in Champaign for the long-haul if the Illinois native wants back in coaching.