Since 2021, Bret Bielema has served as the Illinois Fighting Illini's head football coach. He began his career as an assistant coach at Iowa before becoming well-known as the head coach of Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to three consecutive Big Ten championships and trips to the Rose Bowl.
Bielema was the coach at the University of Arkansas from 2013 to 2017, and ended with a 29–34 record in the SEC. After that, he joined the New England Patriots in 2018 as a consultant to the HC and then as a DL in 2019 before moving to the New York Giants as an OLB in 2020.
Bret Bielema Salary
In May 2025, the Illinois Fighting Illini announced that head football coach Bret Bielema had extended his contract for a further six years, until the 2030 football season. In addition to the $7.7 million yearly pay, Bielema will be eligible for retention and additional bonuses for the term of the contract.
Bielema has been the head coach of Illinois for four seasons; his best season was in 2024, when the Fighting Illini won the Citrus Bowl and won ten games. Bielema has led the Illini to two bowl games and has a 28-22 record overall over his four seasons.
Bret Bielema Contract
Bielema's new contract would run for an additional two years, until June 30, 2031, with the possibility of earning up to four one-year extensions upon reaching specific performance goals, potentially extending the term through 2035, according to Fightingillini's official website. The starting compensation for Bielema would be $7.7 million per year. Bielema would also be eligible for yearly retention bonuses on July 1st of every year, starting with $700,000 on July 1st, 2026, and increasing annually after that.
A one-time signing incentive as well as several longevity and performance bonuses would be available to Bielema. The University would have significant safeguards under Bielema's contract against his leaving to take coaching positions elsewhere.
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FAQs on Bret Bielema
A. Bret Bielema is the head football coach at the University of Illinois.
A. Bret Bielema played as a defensive lineman at the University of Iowa.
A. Bret Bielema won three Big Ten titles as head coach at Wisconsin.
A. Bret Bielema was named Illinois' head coach in December 2020.
A. Yes, Bret Bielema held coaching positions with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
