University of Illinois Names Lovie Smith Head Coach

Looks like the University of Illinois football team is bringing in a familiar face to fill their recently vacated (then filled, then vacated again) head coaching position.

According to Fox Sports, former Bears head coach Lovie Smith is set to take the reigns on the Fighting Illini team. Smith’s most recent tenure was that of head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He previously served as the Bears’ head coach for seven seasons and the defensive coordinator for the then St. Louis Rams.

His most recent college coaching experience concluded more than twenty years ago with Ohio State where he served as defensive coordinator under head coach John Cooper.

The hiring of Smith marks an end to the Bill Cubit era which lasted almost an entire off-season (and an overall record of 0-0). Don’t feel too bad though. According to Deadspin, Cubit earned just shy of $1 million during his four-month stint.