Illinois Football lost the final game of the 2018 season this past weekend to top 25 ranked Northwestern. Despite the struggles of this year’s team, which finished 4-8, the third season under Coach Lovie Smith, Josh Whitman announced today they would be extending Smith’s contract through the 2023 season. This two-year extension comes alongside this note by Whitman, which is worthy of your attention as well, showcasing the program’s support for Smith despite the 9-27 record through his tenure.
The move isn’t necessarily a surprising one, as there are many factors to take into consideration here — a young team, Smith’s ability to recruit new talent to the program, amongst others.
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