The Lovie Smith era in Champaign is no more.
Illinois is parting ways with Smith after five years with him as its head coach, choosing to go in a different direction as it enters the offseason, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg and Big Ten Network's Howard Griffith. The former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach had a 17-39 all-time record leading the Illini who never finished with a winning record or higher than fourth in the Big Ten West during his tenure.
He reportedly told the team about the decision in a meeting at noon on Sunday.
Smith, 62, was under contract through the 2023 season after receiving a contract extension in the fall of 2018. The 2005 NFL Coach of the Year will now look to continue his career elsewhere.
The Illini must now embark on a coaching search amid a pandemic that has sapped athletic departments of much of their cash flow. Yahoo's Pete Thamel threw out a number of possibilities, including former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema and Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman.