Bret Arnold Bielema (/ ˈ b iː l ə m ɑː /; born January 13, 1970) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a position he has held since the 2021 season.

Bielema, who signed a six-year agreement in 2022 that will keep him at Illinois through 2028, has elevated Illinois to new heights during his first four seasons with 28 wins, 18 Big Ten victories, and a victory in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to give Illinois its fifth 10-win season in program history.

4 days ago · Illinois coach Bret Bielema took aim at former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh in a series of tweets amid reported pushback by UM against the NCAA in its alleged sign-stealing investigation. In ...

Dec 28, 2024 · Bret Bielema, who replaced former coach Lovie Smith before the 2021 season began, has transformed his Illinois football program into a consistent winner. Illinois has met or exceeded the...

Oct 25, 2024 · Now in his 11th year as a head coach in the Big Ten, it has become clear that Bielema is the quintessential coach for the oldest conference in major college...

Oct 30, 2024 · Minus two 5-7 seasons, Bielema has been more than respectable. Illinois clings to a 5-0 record at Memorial Stadium this season. It has three wins against then-ranked AP Top 25 teams (Kansas,...

Oct 21, 2023 · Bret Bielema hasn't coached a game for the Badgers since infamously leaving the program amid an 8-5 record — and before the team's Rose Bowl Game — to take over at Arkansas in...

Jan 2, 2025 · The Illinois Fighting Illini and head coach Bret Bielema ended the season 10-3 overall, 6-3 in conference play, and fifth in the Big Ten standings. It was a major improvement over 2023 (5-7) and ...

Sep 18, 2024 · Illinois coach Bret Bielema has not had an ordinary journey in his head coaching career. He got his first opportunity to lead a college football program when he was promoted from defensive...

Jan 1, 2025 · Illinois football coach Bret Bielema met with the media following the Fighting Illini's 21-17 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl.. Here is the full transcript of what the ...