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Barry Lunney Jr., Illinois agree to contract extension

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Barry Lunney Jr. is in his first season as the offensive coordinator for Bret Bielema and Illinois. On Wednesday, he landed his first contract extension to remain with the Illini.

According to the press release, Lunney’s new contract will keep him in Champaign through the 2025 season. The extension comes, in part, to the work of transforming RB Chase Brown into a Heisman candidate, the impressive showing of QB Tommy DeVito with the offense and an increase of over 80 yards per game from the Illinois offense.

“I am grateful to Coach Bielema and Josh Whitman for their commitment towards my family and me,” said Lunney via press release. “The atmosphere and expectations that they have created in the Smith Center and Memorial Stadium are an honor to be a part of. I am excited to continue to build the Illinois offense under the leadership of Coach Bielema and alongside our exceptional staff and student-athletes. Thank you to the Champaign-Urbana community and the University of Illinois for welcoming our family to such a special place. We look forward to being a part of Illinois football in the years to come, as we continue building towards championships!”

Bielema also praised the OC for his work in transforming Illinois this season:

“Coach Lunney has had a huge impact in his time here directing our offense,” said Bielema via release. “He has provided an excitement for our offensive players and coaches in the building every day since he came in. The opportunities he has provided our players through his efficient scheme has been vital for the success of our program as we set new expectations going forward. I’m grateful to Josh and our administration for being proactive in locking in Coach Lunney for the future.”

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.