Bret Bielema
Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach, Illinois Fighting IlliniAt Illinois since
- Record
- 136-86
- Win percentage
- .613
- Games
- 222
- Seasons
- 182006–2026
Season history
Every season the coach has run a program.
| Season | Team | Record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Illinois | 2-2 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS 6.5 | SP+ 8.5 | Offense 34.3 | Defense 26.2 |
| 2025 | Illinois | 9-4 | AP preseason #12 | AP final — | SRS 12.3 | SP+ 12.9 | Offense 33.3 | Defense 21.7 |
| 2024 | Illinois | 10-3 | AP preseason — | AP final #16 | SRS 8.8 | SP+ 9.6 | Offense 29.0 | Defense 20.9 |
| 2023 | Illinois | 5-7 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS -2.3 | SP+ -2.5 | Offense 21.6 | Defense 24.1 |
| 2022 | Illinois | 8-5 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS 11.7 | SP+ 15.9 | Offense 20.6 | Defense 5.5 |
| 2021 | Illinois | 5-7 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS -0.9 | SP+ 4.3 | Offense 23.2 | Defense 21.8 |
| 2017 |  Arkansas | 4-8 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS -4.7 | SP+ 2.1 | Offense 34.1 | Defense 31.8 |
| 2016 | Arkansas | 7-6 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS 4.2 | SP+ 7.9 | Offense 36.2 | Defense 28.9 |
| 2015 | Arkansas | 8-5 | AP preseason #18 | AP final — | SRS 15.1 | SP+ 19.2 | Offense 46.6 | Defense 28.0 |
| 2014 | Arkansas | 7-6 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS 20.4 | SP+ 12.2 | Offense 32.4 | Defense 19.4 |
| 2013 | Arkansas | 3-9 | AP preseason — | AP final — | SRS -1.8 | SP+ 1.5 | Offense 30.0 | Defense 30.6 |
| 2012 |  Wisconsin | 8-5 | AP preseason #12 | AP final — | SRS 12.1 | SP+ 14.5 | Offense 31.5 | Defense 15.9 |
| 2011 | Wisconsin | 11-3 | AP preseason #11 | AP final #10 | SRS 23.1 | SP+ 26.1 | Offense 45.9 | Defense 21.2 |
| 2010 | Wisconsin | 11-2 | AP preseason #12 | AP final #7 | SRS 15.5 | SP+ 23.1 | Offense 42.1 | Defense 20.7 |
| 2009 | Wisconsin | 10-3 | AP preseason — | AP final #16 | SRS 8.4 | SP+ 16.9 | Offense 35.5 | Defense 19.4 |
| 2008 | Wisconsin | 7-6 | AP preseason #13 | AP final — | SRS 4.1 | SP+ 10.5 | Offense 31.3 | Defense 22.0 |
| 2007 | Wisconsin | 9-4 | AP preseason #7 | AP final #24 | SRS 7.7 | SP+ 10.4 | Offense 35.9 | Defense 26.1 |
| 2006 | Wisconsin | 12-1 | AP preseason — | AP final #7 | SRS 14.3 | SP+ 19.1 | Offense 28.9 | Defense 11.2 |
Coaching history
Every job, not only the years spent running a program.
| Years | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2020– | Illinois | Head Coach |
| 2020 | New York NFL | Outside Linebackers Coach (under Joe Judge) |
| 2018–2019 | New England NFL | Defensive Line Coach (under Bill Belichick) |
| 2012–2017 | Arkansas | Head Coach |
| 2006–2012 | Wisconsin | Head Coach |
| 2004–2005 | Wisconsin | Defensive Coordinator (under Bo Ryan) |
| 2002–2003 | Kansas State | Co-Defensive Coordinator (under Bill Snyder) |
| 1992–2001 | Iowa | Assistant Coach (under Kirk Ferentz) |
Notable staff
Assistants who went on to run a program of their own.
| Years | Coach | Role | Head coach at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2010 | Dave Doeren | Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach | Head coach at NC State 2013– |
| 2016–2017 | Kurt Anderson | Offensive Line Coach | Head coach at UMass 2025 |
| 2021–2022 | Ryan Walters | Defensive Coordinator | Head coach at Purdue 2023–2024 |
| 2012–2015 | Sam Pittman | Offensive Line Coach | Head coach at Arkansas 2020–2025 |
| 2010–2014 | Chris Ash | Defensive Coordinator, Secondary Coach | Head coach at Rutgers 2015–2019 |
| 2008–2013 | Charlie Partridge | Defensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coach | Head coach at Florida Atlantic 2014–2016 |
| 2005–2011 | Paul Chryst | Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Coach | Head coach at Wisconsin 2014–2022 |
| 2012 | Paul Haynes | Defensive Coordinator | Head coach at Kent State 2013–2017 |
| 2012 | Paul Petrino | Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Coach | Head coach at Idaho 2013–2021 |