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Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema Named to Coach of the Year Watch List

Bret Bielema, in his fourth season with the Illini, will now be considered for college football's most prestigious coaching award

Jason Langendorf

Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema hugs player Isaiah Williams (1) after Williams scored the winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema hugs player Isaiah Williams (1) after Williams scored the winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
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Add another Illini to the list of names being mulled for awards across college football: On Wednesday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema was named to the 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, the American Heart Association (an award co-presenter) announced.

Bielema, a 54-year-old Illinois native now in his fourth season as coach of the Illini, has led the team to an unexpected 5-1 (2-1 Big Ten) start and a No. 22 ranking in this week's AP Top 25 poll.

The Coach of the Year award, according to the AMA, "recognizes contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field." Presented by the AMA and the Bryant family (Bear Bryant, the iconic Alabama coach, died from a heart attack in 1983), the Coach of the Year winner is selected every January.

Bielema, with a career record of 120-78, which includes stops in Wisconsin and Arkansas, is now 23-20 as Illinois' coach. Although the Illini have had somewhat up-and-down results under Bielema, he has inarguably outperformed most of his predecessors (especially those of recent vintage) and has been a consistent, steadying public presence even during Illinois football's lower moments under his watch.

Of course, a win over No. 24 Michigan on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS) at the Memorial Stadium rededication in Champaign would undoubtedly boost Bielema's already-solid standing with his bosses and among Illini fans, while raising his profile for any postseason awards.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Football Faces Crucial Test Against Michigan in Week 8

Illinois vs. Michigan: Early Week 8 Weather Report and Game Conditions

Week 7 Big Ten Football Recap: Illinois Shows Grit and Resilience

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Jason Langendorf
JASON LANGENDORF

Jason Langendorf has covered Illinois basketball, football and more for Illinois on SI since October 2024, and has covered Illini sports – among other subjects – for 30 years. A veteran of ESPN and Sporting News, he has published work in The Guardian, Vice, Chicago Sun-Times and many other outlets. He is currently also the U.S. editor at BoxingScene and a judge for the annual BWAA writing awards. He can be followed and reached on X and Bluesky @JasonLangendorf.

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