Illini Coach Bret Bielema Driven By Passion and Consistency

Bielema’s Motivated to Shape a New Era for Illinois Football

Prior to the arrival of Bret Bielema, Illinois football was an abyss of losing culture.

Many within the land of Lincoln had a sour taste in their mouth because of a lack of consistency and drive from past regimes. Fast forward to 2024, Bret Bielema has gone 23-20 through his first three and a half years in Champaign. In year four, Bielema’s Illini are now 5-1 and ranked 22nd in the nation. Bret’s mission from day one was to flip the script on a football program that is near and dear to his heart. Thus far, Bielema has done just that and steered this ship in a positive direction. Recently, the Illini head man sat down with the guys of the UIUC Talkshow to discuss his mindset behind his head coaching career.

Oct 12, 2024;  Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Consistency is Key

When asked to, in one word, describe his secret to raising the ambitions of his team, Bielemas answer was swift, “Consistency.”

“I think in today’s world, kids in our program especially gravitate to what we say and do because we are consistent in our approach.” says coach Bielema. “I think in today’s world, there are so may times that prior to their existence of being here, that maybe they had, had a parent, a loved one, a coach, an administrator, a teacher, a community leader, who hadn’t been able to be consistent in their delivery, of what they promised.” 

The Illini coach concluded, “If you go through and interview 120 players in our program, hopefully, one of the things that they would say, is that Coach B is the same guy every day. “

What Motivates Coach Bret Bielema?

Being a head coach at the power-5 level is a whale of a task. Especially when taking over a program who has faced such struggles in recent history as Illinois Football. It certainly took guts, as the Illini head coach grew up only 180 miles northwest of Champaign in Prophetstown (IL). Striving to be a force of change for your home states flagship program is undoubtedly a ton of pressure. For Bret Bielema, it is what gets him going every single day.

“What keeps me going? In this world, in the football world, just the desire to do something at Illinois that has never been done,” says Bielema. “Josh Whitman, our AD and I kind of have an unwritten agreement that we’re going to do everything every day to do something that has never been done at Illinois, and to sustain success.”

Of course, football is not the only aspect of Bielema’s life where he is driven to be the best version of himself.

 “I think in the bigger picture, I have a beautiful wife and two daughters who literally are counting on me for their success and their sustainability.” stated the Illini coach. That never goes unnoticed on my daily journey. A lot of times I’m in here in the building way before they are even up. Anytime I can lay my eyes on them, even if it’s just to put them to bed, you know, or share a moment with them where I get to take them to school, do something like a normal dad can do, those moments are pretty special to my heart.”

Credit: David Craan – Illinois Athletics

WATCH – Full Bret Bielema Interview

Check out the full interview with Juan David & Aaryaman of “The UIUC Talk Show” below!

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