Illinois releases details for Bret Bielema's long-term contract extension
Bret Bielema has signed a long-term extension to stay in Champaign as head coach at Illinois. After leading the Illini to an 8-win season, Bielema has things clicking on both sides of the ball.
It was already known that Bielema would be making a base salary of $6 million in 2023 but Illinois released the full details of the contract on Friday. Included in the deal is a salary that grows by $150,000 each year with compensation of $6,750,000 in 2028. The deal also includes one-year extensions built into the deal through 2033. Those extensions are activated if Illinois reaches 6 wins per season.
Also included as pending approval is a new pay raise for strength and conditioning coach Tank Wright. That raise would increase Wright’s salary to $600,000 in a deal that would run through the 2025 season.
Also pending approval, #Illini strength and conditioning coach Tank Wright is set to receive a six-figure bump in pay up to $600,000 in a multi-year deal keeping him at Illinois through the 2025 season https://t.co/ulx8S4kGYs pic.twitter.com/EvthUTO12t
— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) January 20, 2023
In two seasons with the Illini, Bielema has guided the program to a 13-12 overall record and their first bowl game since the 2019 season. The 2022 campaign was also the first season with 8+ wins for Illinois since 2007.