Bret Bielema updates Illinois' plans vs. Iowa after testing positive for COVID-19
When Illinois travels to Iowa City on Saturday to take on the 8-2 Iowa Hawkeyes, it will do so without its head coach.
The program announced on Tuesday that Bret Bielema, the 1st-year Illini coach, tested positive for COVID-19. He is currently in isolation with mild symptoms. Bielema is vaccinated. Wideout coach George McDonald will be the team’s acting head coach for the game.
Bielema held a virtual news conference with members of the media Tuesday, 247Sports’ Jeremy Werner shared what the head coach had to say.
#illini Bret Bielema: Learned last night he was COVID positive. Felt fine on Monday morning but felt some mild symptoms later in the day. Tested negative on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/afKKRH9d2c
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Extremely disappointed not to be able to be in Smith Center this week and not to be able travel with team to Iowa.
But have had a COVID plan in place for a while.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Chose George McDonald because he has tremendous rapport with our players throughout the team. Also allows coordinators to stay in their positions without shuffling multiple people into new roles.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Talked with team this morning. In isolation for a few days, was able to watch practice film. Thought they had great energy and tempo.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Can't have contact with team an hour and a half prior to kickoff, per Big Ten rules.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Director of Illinois high school recruiting Pat Ryan has been elevated to an assistant role this week with an NCAA waiver.
Ryan is an IHSA Hall of Fame coach after 30 years as Metamora head coach.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Everyone wanted to make this game about me (in his return to Iowa), and I just took myself out of the equation.
Admits it will be tough for him not to be there.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Was told he should be able to coach for Northwestern game next week.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) November 16, 2021
The Illini are 4-6 on the season, but breakthrough wins on the road against ranked teams in then-No. 7 Penn State and then-No. 20 Minnesota gave the program some confidence it could end the season on a positive note and make a bowl game.
They’ll play the Hawkeyes, now ranked No. 20, at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday before closing the regular season at home on Nov. 27 against Northwestern (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten).
