Lovie Smith was the first African American coach for the Chicago Bears, and now he’s the first African American football coach of the Fighting Illini.
Smith was introduced as the new head football coach Monday, just two days after former coach Bill Cubit was fired. Smith says he wouldn’t call this a “rebuilding project”.
“If we recruit the way I know we will, there’s no rebuilding as far as I’m concerned,” says Smith. “We’re going to try to put the best football team we possibly can on the field, as quick as possibly we can — simple as that. In time, whatever time that might be, we will be competiong for Big Ten championships.”
U of I Athletic Director Josh Whitman made the announcement, and says it didn’t take long for Smith to say yes.
“On Saturday, we made our decision, and we were able to get Lovie to come up here [Sunday],” says Whitman. “[We] had the chance to finalize our agreement, finalize our partnership.”
Whitman says he wanted to “turn the page” on the football program following last year’s controversy involving Tim Beckman and the former athletic director.
Smith signed a six-year contract worth $2 million a year plus incentives. He was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 6th following an 8 and 24 record with the team.
Smith does have ties to the Champaign area, being a former head coach of the Bears and a former defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.