 Bielema in 2021 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Illinois |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Record | 18–19 |
| Annual salary | $6 million |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | January 13, 1970 Silvis, Illinois, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1989–1992 | Iowa |
| 1994 | Milwaukee Mustangs |
| Position(s) | Nose guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1994–1995 | Iowa (GA) |
| 1996–2001 | Iowa (LB) |
| 2002–2003 | Kansas State (co-DC) |
| 2004–2005 | Wisconsin (DC) |
| 2006–2012 | Wisconsin |
| 2013–2017 | Arkansas |
| 2018 | New England Patriots (consultant to HC) |
| 2019 | New England Patriots (DL) |
| 2020 | New York Giants (OLB) |
| 2021–present | Illinois |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 115–77 |
| Bowls | 4–6 |
| 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 (/ˈbiːləmɑː/; 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.