SI.com · Dec 13, 2020
Sources: Illinois Parting Ways With Head Coach Lovie Smith
Lovie Smith will not be returning as Illinois' head coach, according to Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde.
Big Ten Network's Howard Griffith and ESPN's Adam Rittenberg first reported the news.
Illinois hired Smith ahead of the 2016 season, giving the veteran NFL head coach a six-year contract and his first collegiate head-coaching job. However, Smith failed to put together a winning season with the program, going just 17–39 throughout his five seasons in Champaign. Illinois also made just a single postseason appearance throughout Smith's tenure, falling last year in the Redbox Bowl.
A 28–10 loss to Northwestern on Saturday dropped this year's team to 2–5 on the year.