Sports ‘Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me’: Bret Bielema to take over Illini football December 19, 2020December 19, 2020Evan Hilbert, USA TODAYComments Off on ‘Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me’: Bret Bielema to take over Illini football Illinois football on Saturday named former Big Ten Coach of the Year Bret Bielema its next head coach, replacing Lovie Smith, who was let go.