Five realistic candidates for the Illinois vacancy
Reports surfaced Sunday that Illinois has parted ways with coach Lovie Smith after five seasons. Smith was 17-39 overall and 10-33 in the Big Ten, finishing with wins over only Rutgers and Nebraska this season.
Illinois has not had a winning season since 2011 and hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2001 so whoever lands this job is entering a major challenge. Here are five names to watch as the coaching search gets underway.
*****
MORE: Five realistic candidates for the Arizona vacancy
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series
*****
MARCUS FREEMAN, CINCINNATI DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Freeman has all the credentials to be considered for the Illinois job - and could be considered a home run hire because of his pedigree. He played at Ohio State. He was a fifth-round NFL Draft pick. He’s coached in the Big Ten at Ohio State and Purdue. And over the last few seasons, Freeman has been the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Cincinnati and has done a tremendous job. Will Illinois focus more on an offensive-minded coach to jump-start the Illini offense? Maybe. But Freeman is a fantastic young coach who has walked the walk and could recruit to Champaign.
CLARK LEA, NOTRE DAME DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Lea is going to be mentioned for numerous openings because he’s been fantastic as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, he’s only 38-years-old and he is destined to move to a Power Five head coaching job at any point. Vanderbilt makes the most sense since he played there and he’s a Nashville native but Illinois could be intriguing as well as there is arguably an easier path to winning in Champaign.
LANCE LEIPOLD, BUFFALO HEAD COACH
Leipold is a winner, going 109-6 during eight seasons at Wisconsin-Whitewater and then taking the Buffalo job and turning that program quickly. The Bulls won 10 games in 2018 and they’re undefeated so far this season. Buffalo is averaging nearly 52 points per game this season so Leipold could be the answer in sparking a moribund offense that averages just 20 points per game and really doesn’t have much of a passing attack. Leipold does not have major name recognition but he has connections through a career coaching in the Midwest and offensive playmakers could be intrigued to play for him.
SEAN LEWIS, KENT STATE HEAD COACH
There are a lot of attractive aspects to hiring Lewis since he played at Wisconsin, he’s only 34-years-old so Illinois can build under him, he is an offensive mind who worked under Dino Babers and he’s quickly turned Kent State into a respectable MAC program. After going 2-10 in Lewis’ first season, the Golden Flashes were 7-6 last year and now sit at 3-1. Before Lewis’ arrival, Kent State had one winning season since 2001 and now they’re set for two straight for the first time since 1976-77.
JEFF MONKEN, ARMY HEAD COACH
Monken has been mentioned for numerous job openings because he’s had such fantastic runs at Georgia Southern and Army, the head coach for 11 seasons at those schools with only three losing campaigns. Those are not easy places to win but Monken has done just that including an Army team that is 8-2 this season. Monken is also a Peoria native so he’d immediately be comfortable with his surroundings and know the recruiting territory. Would Monken run the option offense in the Big Ten though? That would be one question to consider if he emerges as a serious candidate.