Illini Football Head Coaching Records
Last updated following the 2025 season
| Illinois Head Coaching Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | W-L-T | Pct. |
| Scott Williams, 1890 | 1-2-0 | .333 |
| Robert Lackey, 1891 | 6-0-0 | 1.000 |
| E. K. Hall, 1892-93 | 12-5-5 | .706 |
| Louis D. Vail, 1894 | 5-3-0 | .625 |
| George Huff, 1895-99 | 21-16-3 | .563 |
| Fred L. Smith, 1900 | 7-3-2 | .667 |
| Edgar G. Holt, 1901-02 | 18-4-1 | .818 |
| George Woodruff, 1903 | 8-6-0 | .571 |
| Alumni*, 1904 | 9-2-1 | .818 |
| Fred Lowenthal, 1905 | 5-4-0 | .556 |
| Justa Lindgren, 1906 | 1-3-1 | .250 |
| Arthur R. Hall, 1907-12 | 27-10-3 | .730 |
| Robert C. Zuppke, 1913-41 | 131-81-13 | .618 |
| Ray Eliot, 1942-59 | 83-73-11 | .532 |
| Pete Elliott, 1960-66 | 31-34-1 | .477 |
| Jim Valek, 1967-70 | 8-32-0 | .200 |
| Bob Blackman, 1971-76 | 29-36-1 | .439 |
| Gary Moeller, 1977-79 | 6-24-3 | .227 |
| Mike White, 1980-87 | 47-41-3 | .533 |
| John Mackovic, 1988-91 | 30-16-1 | .663 |
| Lou Tepper, 1991-96 | 25-31-2 | .446 |
| Ron Turner, 1997-2004 | 35-57-0 | .380 |
| Ron Zook, 2005-2011 | 34-51-0 | .400 |
| Vic Koenning^, 2011 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 |
| Tim Beckman, 2012-14 | 12-25-0 | .324 |
| Bill Cubit (interim), 2015 | 5-7 | .417 |
| Lovie Smith, 2016-20 | 17-39 | .304 |
| Rod Smith&, 2020 | 0-1 | .000 |
| Bret Bielema, 2021-present | 37-26 | .587 |
* Arthur R. Hall, Justa Lindgren, Fred Lowenthal, Clyde Matthews
^ Interim head coach for 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
& Acting head coach at Penn State, 12/19/2020
Hall of Fame
Illinois has had five coaches inducted into the College Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
Edward K. Hall (1892-1893) — Inducted 1951
Robert Zuppke (1913-1941) — Inducted 1951
George Woodruff (1903) — Inducted 1963
Bob Blackman (1971-1976) — Inducted 1987
Pete Elliott (1960-1966) — Inducted 1994
