Ranking each Big Ten football head coach entering 2024 season
9. Bret Bielema, Illinois
Bielema enters his fourth season at Illinois trying to take the Fighting Illini to the next level. While his tenure in Champaign has seen mixed results, Bielema鈥檚 coaching resume still stands out. The former Iowa defensive lineman began coaching at his alma mater before earning defensive coordinator jobs at Kansas State and Wisconsin. Bielema was promoted to be the Badgers鈥� head coach following Barry Alvarez鈥檚 retirement and became Big Ten Coach of the Year in his first season while leading them to nine wins or more in five of seven campaigns. Following a lackluster tenure at Arkansas, Bielema coached with the Patriots and Giants before returning to the Big Ten. Illinois went 8-5 under Bielema in 2022 and has produced NFL talent recently, but consistency will be needed going forward, particularly after regression last year.
