Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
7th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Lovie Smith (2016–2020).
| Season | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 5-7 | 8-5 | 5-7 | 10-3 | 9-4 | 5-3 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | W bowl | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #73 | #46 | #38 | #49 | #45 | #24 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | 40.8 | 41.9 | 51.1 | 44.1 | 44.9 | 49.4 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||
| OC | Tony Petersen | Barry Lunney Jr. | Barry Lunney Jr. | Barry Lunney Jr. | Barry Lunney Jr. | Barry Lunney Jr. | |
| DC | Ryan Walters | Ryan Walters | Aaron Henry / Terrance Jamison | Aaron Henry / Terrance Jamison | Aaron Henry / Terrance Jamison | Bobby Hauck (left the team Sept. 27) | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | 16 | 40 | 58 | 72 | 64 | 82 | |
| Defense | 67 | 98 | 44 | 41 | 44 | 6 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 29.8 | 37.7 | 44.6 | 40.0 | 42.9 | 43.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 40.8 | 38.8 | 41.7 | 39.3 | 39.4 | 55.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 20.0 | 35.3 | 40.0 | 30.6 | 41.9 | 38.5 | |
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
A typical class-year mix of incoming transfers.
15 NFL Draft picks: Kerby Joseph (2022), Vederian Lowe (2022), Doug Kramer (2022), Devon Witherspoon (2023), Jartavius Martin (2023), Sydney Brown (2023), Chase Brown (2023), Jer'Zhan Newton (2024) + 7 more
3 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Devon Witherspoon (2022), Alex Palczewski (2022), Johnny Newton (2023)
14th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Bill Cubit (2015) · succeeded by Bret Bielema (2021–now).
| Season | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 3-9 | 2-10 | 4-8 | 6-7 | 2-5 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #73 | #46 | #54 | #53 | #87 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | 50.4 | 46.8 | 40.0 | 42.9 | 37.4 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | Garrick McGee | Garrick McGee | Rod Smith | Rod Smith | Rod Smith | |
| DC | Hardy Nickerson | Hardy Nickerson | Hardy Nickerson | Lovie Smith | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | 9 | 4 | 51 | 18 | 39 | |
| Defense | 50 | 37 | 3 | 60 | 2 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 44.1 | 46.0 | 34.0 | 34.4 | 28.9 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 42.5 | 33.8 | 36.8 | 36.6 | 30.8 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 23.3 | 15.4 | 19.4 | 10.7 | 40.0 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
4 NFL Draft picks: Dawaune Smoot (2017), Nick Allegretti (2019), Kendrick Green (2021), Nate Hobbs (2021)
11th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Ron Zook (2005–2011) · succeeded by Bill Cubit (2015).
| Season | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 2-10 | 4-8 | 6-7 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | #63 | #51 | #72 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 44.4 | 52.5 | 53.2 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | — | — | Bill Cubit | |
| DC | — | — | Tim Banks | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 15 | 59 | 32 | |
| Defense | 44 | 23 | 19 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 37.7 | 55.4 | 50.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 40.3 | 46.7 | 48.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 40.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | |
4 NFL Draft picks: Hugh Thornton (2013), Akeem Spence (2013), Terry Hawthorne (2013), Michael Buchanan (2013)
10th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Ron Turner (1997–2004) · succeeded by Tim Beckman (2012–2014).
| Season | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||
| Record | 2-9 | 2-10 | 9-4 | 5-7 | 3-9 | 7-6 | 6-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | — | — | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #48 | #27 | #22 | #22 | #28 | #61 | #37 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||
| Pass rate | 45.9 | 43.3 | 35.2 | 46.1 | 40.0 | 31.5 | 39.7 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||
| Offense | 58 | 52 | 81 | 72 | 74 | 80 | 22 | |
| Defense | 11 | 87 | 26 | 68 | 12 | 74 | 91 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 38.6 | 34.9 | 28.3 | 40.8 | 34.0 | 23.2 | 36.4 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 40.0 | 36.1 | 27.8 | 42.7 | 23.4 | 24.0 | 28.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 12.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 20.6 | 27.0 | 13.2 | 30.8 | |
16 NFL Draft picks: Alan Ball (2007), Rashard Mendenhall (2008), Vontae Davis (2009), Xavier Fulton (2009), Will Davis (2009), Arrelious Benn (2010), Jon Asamoah (2010), Mike Hoomanawanui (2010) + 8 more
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Whitney Mercilus (2011)
6th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Lou Tepper (1992–1996) · succeeded by Ron Zook (2005–2011).
| Season | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 0-11 | 3-8 | 8-4 | 5-6 | 10-2 | 5-7 | 1-11 | 3-8 | |
| Postseason | — | — | W bowl | — | L bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | #57 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 46.6 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 42.8 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 53.8 | |
16 NFL Draft picks: Robert Holcombe (1998), J.P. Machado (1999), Neil Rackers (2000), Danny Clark (2000), Marques Sullivan (2001), Jameel Cook (2001), Kurt Kittner (2002), Eugene Wilson (2003) + 8 more
4th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed John Mackovic (1988–1991) · succeeded by Ron Turner (1997–2004).
| Season | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 6-5-1 | 5-6 | 7-5 | 5-5-1 | 2-9 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | W bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | |
7 NFL Draft picks: Brad Hopkins (1993), Filmel Johnson (1994), Ken Dilger (1995), John Holecek (1995), Dana Howard (1995), Scott Turner (1995), Dennis Stallings (1997)
5th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Mike White (1980–1987) · succeeded by Lou Tepper (1992–1996).
| Season | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 6-5-1 | 10-2 | 8-4 | 6-5 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | |
9 NFL Draft picks: Keith Jones (1989), Jeff George (1990), Mike Bellamy (1990), Henry Jones (1991), Moe Gardner (1991), Darrick Brownlow (1991), Mel Agee (1991), Chris Green (1991) + 1 more
8th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Gary Moeller (1977–1979) · succeeded by John Mackovic (1988–1991).
| Season | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 3-7-1 | 7-4 | 7-5 | 10-2 | 7-4 | 6-5-1 | 4-7 | 3-7-1 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | L bowl | — | L bowl | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
15 NFL Draft picks: John Gillen (1981), Jack Squirek (1982), Ron Ferrari (1982), Tony Eason (1983), Mike Bass (1983), Mitchell Brookins (1984), Dwight Beverly (1984), Don Thorp (1984) + 7 more
13th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Bob Blackman (1971–1976) · succeeded by Mike White (1980–1987).
2 NFL Draft picks: Derwin Tucker (1979), John Sullivan (1979)
12th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed James Valek (1967–1970) · succeeded by Gary Moeller (1977–1979).
5 NFL Draft picks: Mike Wells (1973), Gerry Sullivan (1974), Revie Sorey (1975), Tom Hicks (1975), Lonnie Perrin (1976)
3rd-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Pete Elliott (1960–1966) · succeeded by Bob Blackman (1971–1976).
5 NFL Draft picks: Cyril Pinder (1968), John Wright (1968), Rich Johnson (1969), Tony Pleviak (1969), Doug Dieken (1971)
2nd-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Ray Eliot (1942–1959) · succeeded by James Valek (1967–1970).
1st-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Followed Robert Zuppke (1936–1941) · succeeded by Pete Elliott (1960–1966).
9th-best Illinois tenure of 14 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Ray Eliot (1942–1959).