Since 2021
Also head coach at Wisconsin (3 straight Big Ten titles, 2006-12) and Arkansas. Took over a downtrodden Illinois program in 2021 and has delivered back-to-back 9+ win seasons (2024-25) for the first time in the program's 134-year history, including a Citrus Bowl win and a Music City Bowl win over Tennessee.
Record & context
Lifetime record134–84 (18 seasons; 37–26 at Illinois)
Current program6th season at Illinois
Years in system—
ATS contextNo single published career ATS figure 2025 finished 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten) with a Music City Bowl win over Tennessee, capping a 19-7 two-year run — the best stretch in program history. Illinois lost QB Luke Altmyer and several key skill players to the portal/NFL this offseason.
Previous season9-4 (5-4 Big Ten)
Compensation
Salary$7.7M
SourceCoach salary per Wikipedia/USA Today coaches database and multiple 2025 contract reports. NIL figure is a rough industry estimate (Sportsepreneur, mid-2026); Illinois does not offi
Designationreported
Confidence—
Figures are labeled by designation. Estimated values are not official contract terms.