Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema
Bielema in 2021
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIllinois
ConferenceBig Ten
Record26–22
Annual salary$6 million
Biographical details
Born (1970-01-13) January 13, 1970 (age 54)
Silvis, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1989–1992Iowa
1994Milwaukee Mustangs
Position(s)Nose guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1995Iowa (GA)
1996–2001Iowa (LB)
2002–2003Kansas State (co-DC)
2004–2005Wisconsin (DC)
2006–2012Wisconsin
2013–2017Arkansas
2018New England Patriots (consultant to HC)
2019New England Patriots (DL)
2020New York Giants (OLB)
2021–presentIllinois
Head coaching record
Overall123–80
Bowls4–6
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Big Ten (2010–2012)
1 Big Ten Leaders Division (2011)
Super Bowl champion (LIII)
Awards
Big Ten Coach of the Year (2006)

Bret Arnold Bielema (/ˈbləmɑː/; born January 13, 1970) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a position he has held since the 2021 season. Bielema served as the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 2006 to 2012, achieving a 68–24 record and taking them to three straight Rose Bowl Games, although they lost each time. He was the head football coach at University of Arkansas from 2013 to 2017, tallying a mark of 29–34. Bielema was an assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons, in 2018 and 2019 with the New England Patriots and in 2020 with the New York Giants.