Bret Arnold Bielema (/ ˈbiːləmɑː /; 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.

1 day ago · Illinois coach Bret Bielema is feeling great. The Illini are coming off their first 10-win season since 2001. A junior day over the weekend had more than a dozen of the top local prospects on campus.

20 hours ago · Illinois coach Bret Bielema is feeling great. The Illini are coming off their first 10-win season since 2001. A junior day over the weekend had more than a dozen of the top local prospects on campus. Way-too-early top-25 rankings for next season have Illinois solidly in the top 25, some include the Big Ten program in the top 10 with key ...

Illinois football coach Bret Bielema on Sunday met with local media for the first time since the Citrus Bowl to update the Illini's offseason, which has included 11 transfer additions and a big ...

Dec 29, 2024 · Bret Bielema is currently the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini. He was named as the 26th head football coach of the program in December 2020. Since taking over, Bielema has aimed to rejuvenate the Illinois football program with his extensive coaching experience and strategic approach.

Oct 25, 2024 · Bret Bielema is the first Illinois coach since the late 1980s with a winning record. We shouldn't be surprised what he's doing in the Big Ten after what he accomplished at Wisconsin.

Dec 20, 2022 · Bielema, who is 13-11 in his second season at Illinois, will receive an annual salary increase from $4.3 million this season to $6 million in the new agreement, which is pending board...

Dec 30, 2020 · Bret Bielema's inimitable work ethic, dedication and desire gave him the opportunity to return "home" to become the head football coach for Illinois.

Oct 30, 2024 · Although Bielema, whose Illinois record sits at 24-20 entering Illinois' ninth game against Minnesota Saturday (noon ET, FS1), has yet to comment on Dodd's outlook, he took a minute Monday to...