Illinois coach Bret Bielema, who this season guided the team to its highest wins total since 2007, has agreed to a new contract through the 2028 season.
Bielema, who is 13-11 in his second season at Illinois, will receive an annual salary increase from $4.3 million this season to $6 million in the new agreement, which is pending board approval in January. Bielema initially agreed to a six-year, $26.7 million deal with Illinois in December 2020.
After Illinois went 5-7 in Bielema’s first season, the team started 7-1 this fall and was close to winning the Big Ten West Division before dropping consecutive home games to Michigan State and Purdue. The team had 19 All-Big Ten selections, the most in program history.
The Illini finished 8-4 and will play Mississippi State on Jan. 2 in the ReliaQuest Bowl, just the team’s fifth postseason appearance since reaching the 2008 Rose Bowl.