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Lovie Smith Named University of Illinois Head Coach of Football

According to University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman and multiple media outlets, Lovie Smith has been named the head coach of the Fighting Illini football team. Smith’s hire follows the news of interim head coach Bill Cubit was relieved of his duties on Saturday.

 

Details of a six year agreement have been released as Smith and U of I are calling for payments of $2 million annually for 2016 and 2017, $3 million for 2018, $4 million for 2019, and $5 million annually for both 2020 and 2021. Smith will also have opportunities for performance incentives that are tied to team academic and athletic achievements. Smith’s appointment will be presented for U of I Board of Trustee approval on March 16.

 

Smith becomes the 25th head football coach at Illinois. He spent 19 years in the NFL, including 11 years as head coach of the Chicago Bears for nine seasons (2004-12) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 2014-15. He also has collegiate coaching experience with stops in Tulsa, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio State.

 

A press conference is scheduled at 2 p.m. today. 

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